Biden-appointed judge to preside over James Comey perjury case

A Biden-appointed federal judge has been assigned to preside over the Department of Justice’s prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, who stands accused of lying to Congress. U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff of the Eastern District of Virginia set an arraignment for Oct. 9 in the case tied to Comey’s congressional testimony. He faces one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstructing justice. Comey, through his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, has denied the charges, saying, "Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom."

Nachmanoff, raised in Virginia and a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, was confirmed to the federal bench in 2021 with broad bipartisan support from Democrats and three Republicans: Sens. Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski. A former public defender, Nachmanoff’s background has drawn commentary from observers; attorney William Shipley, who defended dozens of Jan. 6 defendants, said Nachmanoff may be the "best potential draw" among Biden-appointed judges in the district and added that his background does not suggest activist progressive leanings. In a separate matter reported by Politico, Nachmanoff sided with the administration in a lawsuit over the CIA’s termination of Dr. Terry Adirim, a clinician involved in vaccine mandates under the Biden administration.

Trump quickly weighed in on the assignment, calling Nachmanoff "crooked" on his Truth Social platform—a hot-button term the former president has used against several judges who ruled against him in civil cases this year.

Comey’s charges stem from statements made under oath to Congress and related actions the government says obstructed its investigation. Comey has denied the allegations, and Fitzgerald said the defense intends to vindicate him in court. The Oct. 9 arraignment will be a procedural milestone as the case proceeds through the federal system.

The selection of Nachmanoff to oversee the case places a Biden-appointed judge at the center of a high-profile prosecution with clear political overtones in Washington. While the courtroom record will determine the outcome, the assignment underscores the continuing intersection of national security, investigative history, and partisan dynamics that have defined U.S. politics over the past several years. As the case unfolds, observers will monitor how the judge manages pretrial matters and any potential motions that could shape how the government presents its case against Comey.