Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged with two counts, including obstruction of justice and making false statements, according to reports. The indictment comes amid heightened political tensions following President Donald Trump’s public calls for swift action against Comey and other perceived adversaries.

Sources indicate that prosecutors in Virginia initially advised new U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, appointed by Trump, that there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against Comey. Despite this, Halligan secured an indictment from a grand jury. The decision followed Trump’s removal of Erik Siebert, the previous U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who had reportedly hesitated to advance cases against Comey.

Trump had previously praised Halligan, a White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, as a necessary force to “get things moving” in the region. The charges mark a significant escalation in what critics describe as an effort by Trump to leverage federal power for personal retribution against individuals he claims have harmed him.

The case has drawn scrutiny over procedural concerns, including the lack of probable cause and ethical questions surrounding the prosecution. No further details about the legal proceedings or potential outcomes have been disclosed at this time.