Overview

• A federal grand jury on Sept. 25 charged James Comey with making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his September 2020 Senate testimony.
• U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff scheduled oral arguments for Nov. 19 and Dec. 9, with a jury trial set to begin Jan. 5, 2026 in Alexandria, Virginia.
• Lead attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says the defense will argue selective and vindictive prosecution linked to Trump’s public calls to charge Comey.
• Multiple prior reviews, including Special Counsel John Durham’s inquiry and an assessment by the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office, reportedly found insufficient evidence to charge, and the grand jury declined a third proposed count.
• After U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert declined to bring the case, Trump removed him and installed Lindsey Halligan, who signed the indictment; reporting also notes a prosecutor in the office resigned in protest.