Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska known for breaking with her party at times, has questioned whether the Justice Department is acting independently after the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
Murkowski posted on X that the department has historically been shielded from presidential influence to maintain public trust. She warned that this independence looks compromised when “overt political pressure from the White House leads to unusual personnel changes and criminal charges filed just days after the President calls for them.”
She emphasised that Comey deserves a fair trial, writing, “Former FBI Director James Comey, like any American, is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. As the legal process moves forward, I expect the DOJ to act in accordance with the Constitution and federal law, and to demonstrate that this case is being handled free from political interference.”
Murkowski also made the point that the strength of democracy rests on public confidence in the idea of equal justice. If people start to believe prosecutions are politically motivated, she said, the damage could be long-lasting, reported The Hill.
A federal grand jury indicted Comey on Thursday on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding linked to testimony he gave in 2020. Comey has denied wrongdoing, insisting he did not knowingly give false testimony.
The indictment is the latest twist in a bitter feud between Comey and Donald Trump, who has long accused him of fuelling the Russia investigation that cast a shadow over Trump’s presidency. Trump has repeatedly branded that inquiry a witch hunt and a hoax.
On Friday, Trump said he hoped “there are others” who would also face charges, accusing Democrats of previously using the Justice Department as a political weapon. His comments came after he publicly pushed his attorney general to go after Comey, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The timing has raised eyebrows. Just before the indictment, Trump removed US attorney Erik Siebert, who had refused to bring charges against Letitia James. Siebert had also been involved in reviewing allegations against Comey but ran into hurdles and had not filed charges before he was ousted.
For Murkowski, the episode is yet another reminder that the country’s institutions are being tested. She has previously spoken out when she believed Trump was stepping over constitutional boundaries, and this latest intervention signals she is not about to stay silent while the Justice Department is pulled into political battles.
At the heart of her concern is whether Americans will still see the legal system as impartial. Her message was clear: the credibility of justice in the United States depends on the public believing prosecutions are based on evidence, not political pressure.
The Department of Justice has long been insulated from presidential administrations to protect public trust in the rule of law. But that independence is called into question when overt political pressure from the White House leads to unusual personnel changes and criminal charges…
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) September 29, 2025
