Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, a stunning legal twist in the yearslong battle between the former bureau chief and President Donald Trump.
Comey, one of Trump's most frequent targets, is expected to surrender to federal authorities on Friday. His arraignment is set for Oct. 9 in Alexandria, Va., before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee. The indictment alleges that Comey lied during September 2020 testimony about the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane probe, specifically when he stated that he had not authorized anyone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source to the media. Prosecutors say that testimony was false and constituted obstruction of a congressional investigation under 18 U.S.C. 1505.
In an Instagram video, Comey declared his innocence and vowed to fight the charges. "My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way," he said. "We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either... But I'm not afraid." Comey added, "My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system. I'm innocent. So let's have a trial and keep the faith."
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Comey's attorney and former U.S. attorney in Chicago, said, "Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom."
The indictment followed weeks of political pressure. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement, "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." The filing came days after Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, was installed as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after Trump dismissed her predecessor for declining to charge Comey.
Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social, calling Comey a "dirty cop" and writing, "Whether you like Corrupt James Comey or not, and I can't imagine too many people liking him, HE LIED! It is not a complex lie, it's a very simple, but IMPORTANT one... There is no way he can explain his way out of it."
The charges have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and Democratic lawmakers, who argue the prosecution is politically motivated. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the indictment a "disgraceful attack on the rule of law," accusing the Trump administration of having "viciously weaponized" the justice system. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said the case reflected "a dangerous abuse of power" and warned that prosecutors must act based on law, not "the personal grudges of a politician determined to settle scores."
Comey faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Legal analysts caution that the government may face difficulty proving intent, particularly given the thin two-page indictment.
