Trump ally prosecutor indicts James Comey; president's allies warn Crossfire Hurricane could have started a war

A federal indictment issued Thursday accuses former FBI Director James Comey of making false statements and obstructing justice in a case tied to his 2017 handling of memos about conversations with then-President Donald Trump. The charges, announced as a rising MAGA legal team presses familiar targets, place Comey at the center of a broader, politically charged crossfire over the Russia investigation that dogged Trump through his presidency. The indictment is being prosecuted by Lindsey Halligan, a U.S. attorney who has risen quickly within Trump’s circle and now leads the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan issued a statement saying the charges reflect a breach of public trust and emphasize accountability in the balance of power that underpins American democracy.

The charges stem from Comey’s interactions with a friend who leaked memos documenting conversations with Trump and from his testimony in September 2020 about the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Prosecutors allege that Comey lied to Congress about whether he authorized leaks to the media in order to spur public discussion about the investigation. The grand jury did not indict Comey on a third count related to false statements, according to documents reviewed by The Daily Mail. Comey’s attorneys said he intends to contest the charges in court.

The case is not about the substance of the Russia inquiry itself but about the manner in which information connected to that inquiry was handled and disclosed. Comey has long been a public antagonist of Trump, and the indictment marks a rare instance of a former senior official facing legal action tied to the Russia episode. The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has faced renewed scrutiny over whether investigations and prosecutions are being weaponized for political purposes. Bondi confirmed the charges on social media Thursday evening, saying the indictment demonstrates the DOJ’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for misleading the American people. Comey’s legal team has vowed to challenge the charges and maintain his innocence in court.

Trump quickly reacted on his social platforms, portraying Comey as a central figure in what he calls the Russia hoax and suggesting the case could escalate. He asserted that Crossfire Hurricane—widely described by critics as the sprawling, contentious probe into Russian interference—had the potential to provoke conflict and described Comey as a deeply harmful figure to the country. In interviews and posts on Truth Social, Trump implied that additional indictments could follow, and he reiterated his view that the Russia investigation and its surrounding actions were a partisan effort to undermine his administration.

The prosecutor’s office in Virginia has framed the charges as a test of accountability for a senior public official who, in the government’s view, breached public trust and obstructed inquiries that should inform congressional oversight. Halligan, who has been aligned with Trump dating back to 2021 and previously replaced a prosecutor who oversaw the Comey-related inquiry, characterized the alleged misconduct as a foundational breach that strikes at the heart of how the executive branch interacts with Congress and the judiciary. The filing comes as the White House and its allies have pressed for a more aggressive posture toward investigations they view as weaponized against political opponents.

Comey issued statements through his attorney denying the charges and signaling readiness to defend himself in court. He has previously said that he would not be intimidated and that he and his family would not live in fear. In social-media comments and posts to a broader audience, Comey asserted his innocence and urged followers to stay engaged in democratic processes. His legal team stressed that the defense would vigorously contest the charges and pursue vindication in the courtroom. Comey’s supporters note the long run of investigations surrounding him and point to inspector general findings that criticized some of his actions but did not lead to prosecution in the past.

The backdrop to Thursday’s indictment stretches back to the late 2010s and early 2020s, when Comey led the FBI through intense scrutiny of the Trump campaign and Russia ties. The inquiry included the release of Comey’s memos and their subsequent handling by third parties, which drew concern about leaks and the ethical boundaries of whistleblowing and reporting. Mueller’s probe concluded without establishing criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, though it identified multiple instances of contact and behavior by Trump associates that raised questions about interference and misconduct. The Durham-related inquiries that followed produced several criminal cases but did not indict Comey on additional charges related to the Russia investigation itself.

The prosecution’s decision to move forward in the Eastern District of Virginia signals ongoing political and legal contention about how public officials should be treated when questions of transparency, truthfulness, and accountability intersect with highly charged partisan debates. Advocates for the administration argue that the Russia investigation has been weaponized for political ends, while supporters of Comey emphasize concerns about overreach and the misapplication of prosecutorial power. As the case unfolds, observers will watch how prosecutors frame Comey’s alleged misconduct in relation to his Senate testimony and the broader narrative of accountability that has framed discussions about the Russia affair for years.

The indictment’s timing, close to key deadlines and within a high-profile political climate, underscores the ways in which legal actions targeting former government officials can become media and political flashpoints. It also highlights the role of new, ideologically aligned prosecutors in shaping the trajectory of investigations that began during the Obama and Trump administrations and have continued to reverberate through Washington politics. Whether the legal process will sustain the allegations against Comey or rebut them in court remains to be seen, but Thursday’s development adds another chapter to a long-running confrontation over the Russia investigation, executive power, and the limits of accountability in U.S. politics.