James Comey, the former FBI director whose tenure sparked controversies from the Clinton email saga to the Trump-Russia probe, was indicted on September 25th, on two felony counts of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.
The charges, stemming from his 2020 Senate testimony, mark the first time a current or former FBI Directer has been criminally charged. Comey is facing up to five years per count if convicted.
No “perp walk”, Comey quietly surrendered for arraignment on October 8th at a federal courthouse in Alexandria,VA. He entered a not-guilty plea through his attorney, former US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, and was released without bail. FBI brass floated a "showy" arrest with "beefy" agents in full tactical gear for maximum humiliation, but some FBI agents reportedly resisted orders for a high-profile arrest. One was suspended for refusing calling it "inappropriate" for a white-collar case.
Comey faces a trial set for January 5th of next year. The indictment, driven by US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who was handpicked by Trump after he ousted her predecessor, alleges Comey misled senators about authorizing leaks during the Russia investigation or Clinton email probe.
The case has ignited a firestorm, with Democrats decrying it as a politically motivated vendetta. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the prosecution “malicious” and a “grotesque abuse of power,” warning of a broader Trump-led purge targeting other high profile Trump adversaries such as New York AG Letitia James. Trump supporters salivated at the thought. Legal analysts question the case’s strength, citing its reliance on ambiguous testimony and proximity to the statute of limitations’ expiration.
Trump, unapologetic, hailed the indictment on Truth Social, posting "JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey." Supporters on social media celebrated the indictment, pointing out Comey’s connection to the “Russia hoax” and January 6 persecutions, and recycling Comey’s now infamous “8647” seashell photo which hinted at assassinating Trump.
Comey, in a brief video statement, declared his innocence and vowed to fight the charges. The case, already a lightning rod, threatens to deepen the nation’s political divide as Trump’s second term unfolds.