The move was classic James Comey. The former director of the FBI was due at a courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, at 10 a.m. to be arraigned on charges brought by a federal prosecutor who had been handpicked by President Donald Trump and was following his orders. The appearance was a formality, but Comey used it to send a message.

Comey showed up in the courtroom more than 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the hearing, arriving before the prosecution team or the judge. Maybe Comey had simply found a good parking spot. But his early entrance commanded the full attention of the assembled reporters. On one hand, Comey was projecting innocence and fortitude: I have nothing to fear. Let’s get started. On the other, Comey was—once again—saying, Look at me.

That tension, between

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