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Former FBI chief James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury days after Donald Trump demanded he be prosecuted, sparking concerns that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been politicized to go after Trump’s perceived enemies.
Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 until Trump fired him in 2017, has been accused of making false statements and obstruction of justice.
- Former FBI director James Comey was indicted on two felony charges for allegedly making false statements and obstruction of justice.
- The charges stem from Comey's 2020 Senate testimony denying he authorized FBI leaks during the Russia and Clinton probe investigations.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to holding power-abusing officials accountable, stating no one is above the law.
- Comey maintains innocence and calls for a trial, while Trump condemns him harshly and pressures for more prosecutions.
The charges relate to his testimony before a Senate panel in 2020, in which Comey denied authorizing FBI officials to leak information to the media.
Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted
Image credits: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
In a statement after the indictment, Comey denied all the charges against him and proclaimed his innocence.
“One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI,” Trump posted 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.”
Image credits: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on X: “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.
“We will follow the facts in this case.”
Comey was indicted just days before the statute of limitations five-year expiration kicked in on his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on September 30, 2020.
During that testimony, Comey told Senator Ted Cruz he had not authorised leaks to the media regarding the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election to aid Trump.
Image credits: Donald J Trump
He also denied authorizing leaks related to an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of her personal email during her time as Secretary of State.
“On May 3rd, 2017, in this committee, Chairman [Chuck] Grassley asked you point blank, ‘Have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?’ You responded under oath, ‘Never,’” Cruz stated.
“He then asked you, ‘Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?’ You responded again under oath, ‘No.’”
The charges relate to Comey’s 2020 testimony
Cruz said that FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe “publicly and repeatedly stated that he leaked information to the Wall Street Journal and that you were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.”
“Who’s telling the truth?” Cruz asked.
“I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017,” Comey replied.
He added: “I’m not going to characterize Andy’s testimony, but mine is the same today.”
In Comey’s indictment, prosecutors allege his testimony that he had not “authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports” was false.
They contend that Comey “then and there knew” and he “authorized” a person to serve as an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation.
Image credits: Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images
Last week, in a Truth Social post that has since been deleted, Trump directed a post at Bondi, appearing to complain that Comey and others had not been prosecuted.
He named Comey, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Leticia James – all outspoken critics of his.
Trump said all three were “guilty as hell” and pressured Bondi to take further prosecutorial action against them.
“They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” Trump wrote.
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The same day he demanded action, Trump claimed to have fired Erik Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, for receiving “unusually strong” support from Democratic senators.
Siebert said he resigned after facing pressure for reportedly refusing to charge James over mortgage fraud allegations.
Trump replaced Siebert with White House aide Lindsey Halligan, who moved forward with the incident against Comey.
In a video posted to Instagram, Comey said: “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.
“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”
Trump and his allies have been seeking to discredit the Russiagate probe
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. We will follow the facts in this case.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 25, 2025
“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith,” he added.
Shortly after Comey was indicted, his son-in-law Troy Edwards resigned from his role as a DOJ attorney “effective immediately” in protest.
In 2020, a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed the U.S. Intelligence Community’s conclusion that Russia had intervened in the 2016 election to aid Trump’s campaign.
But Trump and his allies have been seeking to discredit the report, even accusing former President Barack Obama of treason and manufacturing intelligence over the Russiagate investigation.
Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability. For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust. Every day, we continue the fight to…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 25, 2025
“For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on X after Comey’s indictment.
“Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on.
“Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.
“Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account – no matter their perch.”
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