James Comey indicted on two charges as Trump pushes to prosecute political enemies | First Thing

Ex-FBI director indicted on counts of making false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. Plus, human origins may reach back far deeper in time than previously thought

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Good morning.

The former FBI director James Comey, one of Donald Trump's most frequent targets, was indicted yesterday on one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding, the latest move in the president's retribution campaign against his political adversaries.

What did the US attorney general say? No one is above the law. Today's indictment reflects this Department of Justice's commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people," Pam Bondi said in a statement.

What else is happening? Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum yesterday aimed at reining in what he has called a radical leftwing domestic terror network" but which seemed likely to meet fierce legal pushback from critics depicting it as a licence for a broad crackdown on his political opponents.

Why is there speculation that Israel plans to annex the West Bank? There has been widespread speculation in Israel and elsewhere over how Netanyahu intends to retaliate for the recognition of Palestine as a state earlier this week by the UK, Australia, France, Canada and Portugal. Options include full annexation of the West Bank, or of smaller portions such as a strip of territory along the border with Jordan or shuttering British, French and other consulates in East Jerusalem, analysts said.