Former FBI Director James Comey indicted for alleged false statements, obstruction of justice

A federal grand jury Sept. 25 charged former FBI Director James Comey with two charges related to the disclosure of sensitive information, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a statement.

The indictment alleges Comey “obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information,” according to the DOJ. The indictment also accuses him of lying under oath when he denied authorizing anyone at the bureau to act as an anonymous source.

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FOX News reported Sept. 25 that in July, it learned the FBI had opened a criminal investigation into Comey, focusing on whether he lied to Congress during his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about the bureau’s Trump-Russia probe.

Following the news of the indictment, Attorney General Pam Bondi declared, “No one is above the law,” in a social media post.

“Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people,” Bondi wrote. “We will follow the facts in this case.”

FBI Director Kash Patel called the indictment another step toward “full accountability” for what he described as the politicization of law enforcement under the previous administration.

“For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,” Patel said. “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.”

If convicted, Comey faces a maximum of five years in prison, The Hill reported, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, which is prosecuting the case. Comey is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 9.

Comey responded to the news in a video shared on Instagram shortly after the indictment’s announcement, denying any wrongdoing.

“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system,” he said. “And I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial.”

President Donald Trump, who fired Comey in 2017, reacted swiftly on Truth Social, calling him “One of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.”

“Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts,” Trump added. “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.”