Overview

• A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned a two-count indictment on Sept. 25 charging Comey with perjury and obstruction tied to his Sept. 30, 2020 Senate testimony.
• The indictment alleges Comey falsely denied authorizing a leak to the press and thereby obstructed a congressional proceeding.
• A 2018 DOJ inspector general report recorded Andrew McCabe’s claim that Comey approved a disclosure, while also finding McCabe made false or misleading statements.
• Reporting says career prosecutors and Attorney General Pam Bondi advised against charges, and the district’s U.S. attorney was replaced before the case moved forward.
• Legal commentators question the indictment’s drafting and evidentiary strength, noting the case was filed near a five-year limitations deadline and warning of escalating political retribution.