Overview

• James Comey was charged in Alexandria with making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding after just 14 of 23 grand jurors voted to indict.
• The indictment is only two pages and bears solely the signature of interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan, a recent appointee who has not tried a federal case.
• Commentators including Barbara McQuade, Andrew McCarthy, Ty Cobb and Alan Dershowitz questioned the evidentiary basis and predicted aggressive defense motions to dismiss.
• The allegations center on Comey’s 2020 Senate testimony about authorizing leaks tied to a 2016 Wall Street Journal story, while a 2018 DOJ inspector general report found Andrew McCabe authorized that leak.
• Critics point to presidential pressure, the ouster of U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert and Halligan’s rapid filing, while Reason reports the Justice Department is also weighing potential cases against Adam Schiff and Letitia James.