DOJ Directs Prosecutors to Draft Plans for Soros Foundation Investigation
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice.
President Donald Trump praised the development, calling it proof that “justice in America” is being served nearly a decade after the launch of the FBI’s Russia investigation, the New York Post reported.
Comey, 64, is the highest-ranking former federal official charged in connection with the long-running probe into alleged collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian officials.
If convicted on both counts, he faces up to five years in prison.
CNN reported Comey is expected to turn himself in on Friday, citing Kaitlan Collins. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, an appointee of former President Joe Biden. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 9 in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
Comey has hired former federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald as his defense attorney.
“JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts. He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
A senior Justice Department official has ordered more than a half dozen U.S. attorneys’ offices to draft plans for criminal investigations into the Open Society Foundations, the international nonprofit network funded by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.
The directive, obtained by The New York Times, outlines potential charges including racketeering, arson, wire fraud, and material support of terrorism, The New York Times reported.
It is the latest sign that federal prosecutors are moving aggressively at the urging of President Donald Trump, who has publicly demanded that Soros face criminal charges.
The president sharpened his criticism of Soros after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah this month.
At a rally, Trump threatened to use government levers to “go after” donors to progressive groups, specifically mentioning Soros by name.
The Open Society Foundations was created decades ago to fund democratic initiatives in communist and post-communist countries.
In the 1990s, the group expanded its reach to the United States. Today, it provides grants to organizations that support civil rights, democracy, and social justice.
Conservatives argue that the foundation supports unrest, violent protests, and property destruction.
On Monday, Todd Blanche’s office sent a memo to federal prosecutors in New York, California, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Detroit, and Maryland, instructing them to prepare investigative strategies.
The order was signed by Aakash Singh, a Justice Department lawyer tasked with coordinating between the deputy attorney general’s office and U.S. attorney’s offices nationwide.
Singh cited a report by the conservative Capital Research Center, which tracks liberal spending in politics.
That report accused Soros-backed groups of funneling more than $80 million into organizations connected to terrorism or extremist violence.
As an example, the report named al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group critical of Israel. In 2022, the Israeli government declared al-Haq to be a front for terrorist activity. Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin defended the initiative in a statement.
“This D.O.J., along with our hard-working and dedicated U.S. attorneys, will always prioritize public safety and investigate organizations that conspire to commit acts of violence or other federal violations of law,” Gilmartin said.
The Open Society Foundations rejected the allegations and accused the administration of weaponizing law enforcement.
“These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech,” the group said.
The foundation said its U.S. programs are “solely dedicated to strengthening democracy and upholding constitutional freedoms.”
It added that its work does not fund or condone terrorism.
“Our activities are peaceful and lawful,” the group said.
