By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey shatters norms of independence in federal investigations and will face significant hurdles in court, according to legal experts.

But for President Donald Trump, the final verdict may matter less than the move to exact retribution against an official who investigated him and the warning to others he sees as political enemies.

Comey, who was indicted on Thursday on charges of false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, led the FBI when it began an investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government.

Comey has professed his innocence and vowed to fight the case in court.

Since Trump returned to office in January, he has used his powers

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