Overview

• The Justice Department announced on Sept. 25 that a federal grand jury charged the former FBI director with false statements and obstruction related to his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on the Russia investigation.
• The case was brought in Virginia, and news reports identify the signatory on the indictment as the president’s personal lawyer, who was installed after a U.S. attorney was removed on Sept. 19.
• Media accounts report the alleged offenses tied to congressional testimony were nearing a statute-of-limitations deadline expected next week.
• James Comey publicly denied wrongdoing, stating he is innocent and that he trusts the justice system, and he said he will contest the charges in court.
• President Trump repeatedly pressed Attorney General Bondi to pursue charges and celebrated the indictment online, while outlets note that prosecuting a former FBI director is highly unusual.