James Comey Indicted by Federal Grand Jury; He Says He Is Innocent

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday. In an Instagram video posted after the indictment, Comey said he was innocent and urged the public to stay engaged in elections. He noted that his family has faced costs for standing up to Donald Trump but that they would not back down, and he urged people to participate in the political process by voting. Comey asked for a trial and expressed faith in the federal judiciary.

Bondi's actions against Comey followed what prosecutors described as a pressure campaign by Trump to take action against Comey and other targets. In a Truth Social post over the weekend, Trump urged Bondi to investigate other individuals who scrutinized Trump’s conduct, including Comey, Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Minutes after the indictment was announced on Thursday, Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned his role as a federal prosecutor, citing a need to uphold his oath to the Constitution and the country. The resignation underscores the high political heat surrounding the case as Comey steps into a courtroom role he has not occupied since his tenure at the FBI.

Comey, who led the FBI’s investigation into potential ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, has long been a frequent critic of the president. Maurene Comey, the former federal prosecutor and daughter of James Comey, has also alleged she was fired from her position earlier this year, an assertion that adds another personal dimension to the broader public debate over accountability and political influence within the Justice Department.

The indictment signals a shift in how the Department of Justice is approaching cases tied to figures in Trump’s orbit. Observers say the decision to pursue charges against Comey represents a notable escalation in the department’s willingness to pursue political targets who have publicly challenged Trump or his allies. While legal analysts caution that indictments in federal court are not determinations of guilt, they note that the charges will place Comey in a courtroom setting as prosecutors present evidence.

The case will be heard in federal court, with arraignment and trial timelines to be set by prosecutors and the court. As the proceedings unfold, the nation will be watching how the DOJ handles a case with strong political resonance and implications for the balance between law enforcement actions and partisan conflict. The development fits into a broader pattern of legal and political clashes surrounding Donald Trump and his allies, contributing to an ongoing national dialogue about accountability, the use of federal power, and the role of political opposition within the U.S. government.