{"id":254856,"date":"2025-09-26T00:23:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T00:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/254856\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T00:23:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T00:23:29","slug":"former-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/254856\/","title":{"rendered":"Former FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying to Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury<\/a> Thursday on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice \u2014 and President Trump applauded that \u201cjustice in America\u201d is being served nearly a decade after Russiagate. <\/p>\n

Comey, 64, is the highest-ranking former federal official to face charges in connection with the long-running FBI investigation into alleged collusion between Trump\u2019s 2016 presidential campaign and Russian officials.<\/p>\n

The former top lawman faces up to five years in prison if convicted of both counts.<\/p>\n

\u201cJUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI,\u201d President Trump said on Truth Social<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cToday 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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!\u201d<\/p>\n

James Comey, former FBI director, was indicted Thursday by the Justice Department. AP<\/p>\n

The indictment was handed up days before the expiration of the five-year statute of limitations to charge Comey in connection with his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is above the law,\u201d Attorney General Pam Bondi\u00a0said in a statement on X.<\/a>\u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s indictment reflects this Department of Justice\u2019s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level,\u201d added Lindsey Halligan, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. <\/p>\n

Comey testifying remotely at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Sept. 30, 2020. AP<\/p>\n

\u201cThe balance of power is a bedrock principal\u00a0[sic] of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight. Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0two-page indictment<\/a>\u00a0hinges on an exchange Comey had with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during the Sept. 30, 2020, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, during which the former FBI director denied authorizing leaks to media outlets related to the Trump investigation and a separate probe into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton\u2019s use of a private server to store sensitive emails.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOn May 3rd, 2017, in this committee, Chairman [Chuck] Grassley asked you point blank, \u2018Have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?\u2019 You responded under oath, \u2018Never,\u2019\u201d the line of questioning from Cruz began. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe then asked you, \u2018Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?\u2019 You responded again under oath, \u2018No.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted to the indictment saying \u201cno one is above the law.\u201d AP<\/p>\n

The Texas Republican then noted that Comey\u2019s responses to Grassley appeared to be at odds with comments made by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom Cruz said, \u201cpublicly 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s telling the truth?\u201d Cruz asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To which Comey responded, \u201cI can only speak to my testimony. I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to characterize Andy\u2019s testimony, but mine is the same today,\u201d he added, when pressed again by the Texas Republican.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The indictment states: \u201cThat statement was false, because, as JAMES B. COMEY JR. then and there knew, he in fact had authorized PERSON 3 to serve as an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

By making the false statement, Comey attempted to \u201ccorruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede\u201d the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to prosecutors, resulting in the obstruction of a congressional proceeding charge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Full accountability\u2019<\/p>\n

Earlier Thursday, Trump denied unduly pressing prosecutors to charge Comey, telling reporters in the Oval Office: \u201cThey\u2019re going to make a determination. I\u2019m not making that determination. I think I\u2019d be allowed to get involved if I want, but I don\u2019t really choose to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

FBI Director Kash Patel described the indictment as \u201canother step\u201d in holding those behind \u201cthe Russiagate hoax\u201d accountable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability,\u201d Patel\u00a0wrote on X<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cFor 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 earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

FBI Director Kash Patel said the indictment against Comey is about holding him \u201caccountable\u201d for Russiagate. REUTERS<\/p>\n

\u201cNowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The FBI director continued, \u201cEveryone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account \u2013 no matter their perch.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is above the law.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Comey was charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Comey, who has become an\u00a0outspoken Trump critic<\/a>, launched the Trump-Russia investigation, dubbed \u201cCrossfire Hurricane,\u201d in July 2016.<\/p>\n

Trump, who was never charged with a crime related to the probe, has long blasted the investigation as a \u201cwitch hunt\u201d and \u201choax.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The ex-FBI boss helmed the law enforcement agency until being\u00a0fired by Trump in May 2017<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In May, he posted a cryptic Instagram message with seashells that read \u201c86 47\u201d \u2014 which was taken by some Trump supporters as a call for violence against the commander in chief<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The term \u201c86\u201d is slang for getting rid of something, and Trump returned to the White House as the 47th president in January.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, Trump appeared to openly pressure Bondi to prosecute Comey<\/a>, and other prominent political foes, in a since-deleted Truth Social post.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a Saturday post, directed at \u201cPam,\u201d the president fumed that Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) are all \u201cguilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, \u2018same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam \u201cShifty\u201d Schiff, Leticia (sic)???,\u2019\u201d Trump wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t delay any longer, it\u2019s killing our reputation and credibility,\u201d he added. \u201cThey impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump later told reporters that he wasn\u2019t upset with Bondi but wanted the DOJ to \u201cto act.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to act fast. If they\u2019re not guilty, that\u2019s fine. If they are guilty or if they should be judged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now,\u201d the president said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s complaints about the lack of progress in cases against Comey, James and Schiff came on the same day he announced that he had \u201cfired\u201d the top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia<\/a>, Erik Siebert, over the \u201cUNUSUALLY STRONG support\u201d he had received from Democratic senators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Siebert, who claimed he resigned, had reportedly been under pressure from the Trump administration to bring charges against James related to mortgage fraud allegations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trump replaced Siebert with Halligan<\/a>, a White House aide, who announced the indictment against Comey in the Eastern District of Virginia.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of making false…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":254857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,69,12783,49023,15428,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,80,67,586,132,5230,68,1154,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-254856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-donald-trump","10":"tag-fbi","11":"tag-james-comey","12":"tag-justice-department","13":"tag-new-york","14":"tag-new-york-city","15":"tag-newyork","16":"tag-newyorkcity","17":"tag-ny","18":"tag-nyc","19":"tag-politics","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-united-states-of-america","22":"tag-unitedstates","23":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","24":"tag-us","25":"tag-us-news","26":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115267751669162393","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}