FILE PHOTO: Former FBI Director, James Comey appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee in the Hart Office Building on Thursday June 08, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Matt McClain | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday in Virginia federal court on criminal charges of false statement and obstruction in connection with testimony he gave to Congress five years ago.
Comey, who is a frequent target of President Donald Trump’s ire, is accused of lying during his testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020.
“The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level,” said interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Halligan was installed in that post earlier this week after her predecessor resigned under pressure from Trump after he objected to the filing of criminal charges against Comey.
“The balance of power is a bedrock principal of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight,” Halligan said. “Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.”
If convicted, Comey faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison. Federal criminal sentences are often much less than the maximum because of federal guidelines.
The charges came days after Trump publicly complained to Attorney General Pam Bondi that “nothing is being done” about Comey and other of the president’s perceived enemies, who he claimed were “all guilty as hell.”
Bondi referenced Comey’s indictment, without mentioning him by name, as news of the charges broke.
“No one is above the law,” Bondi wrote in a post on X.
“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 said. “We will follow the facts in this case.”
FBI Director Kash Patel, in his own post on X, wrote, “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,” Patel wrote. “Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
