Overview
- A federal grand jury charged the former FBI director with false statements and obstruction tied to his 2020 appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, alleging he authorized an FBI colleague to act as an anonymous source.
- The two‑page charging document carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
- Comey denied wrongdoing in a video message, saying he is not afraid, declaring confidence in the federal justice system, and pledging to fight the case.
- Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social, later calling Comey a corrupt “flic véreux,” and said he expects additional prosecutions, citing figures such as John Brennan and Letitia James.
- Press reports say some career prosecutors previously judged the evidence too weak and note personnel shifts that included the removal of Erik Siebert and the installation of Lindsey Halligan, while FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy AG Todd Blanche publicly rejected claims of politicization.