Trump rails about Comey indictment as Biden-appointed judge takes over the case

Former FBI director James Comey was indictment by a federal grand jury on charges that he lied to Congress in connection with the Russia investigation, prosecutors said Thursday. The case was assigned to District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee, in the Eastern District of Virginia. President Donald Trump immediately attacked the development on Truth Social, denouncing Comey as a 'dirty cop' and insisting that a 'Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge' would oversee the proceedings and that Comey faces a 'very big price' for the alleged deception.

Prosecutors allege Comey lied during his Sept. 30, 2020 congressional testimony about leaks related to the probe, including whether he authorized disclosure of information to media outlets. The indictment hinges on those statements and the manner in which he described his role in the handling of sensitive information. Comey has not publicly commented on the case since the indictment, but legal experts note that the charges center on whether his responses to lawmakers were knowingly false in the context of a high-profile investigation.

Comey — who led the FBI from 2013 until his firing by President Trump in 2017 — was expected to surrender early Friday, according to law enforcement and court officials. The case marks the latest clash between Trump and figures associated with the Russia investigation that dogged the early years of his presidency. The indictment was announced as Comey prepared to be arraigned in federal court, a step that will test how prosecutors pursue allegations of false statements to Congress.

Trump’s online assault continued after the indictment was revealed. In multiple posts, he referred to Comey as a 'dirty cop' and attacked the judge as a Biden appointee, arguing that the legal process should be scrutinized and promising accountability for what he described as an improper investigation. 'There is no way he can explain his way out of it,' one post read, 'he left himself ZERO margin of error on a big and important answer to a question. He just got unexpectedly caught.' He added that Comey had been a 'destroyer of lives,' a phrase he has used before in relation to the former FBI director.

Comey has publicly acknowledged the indictment and expressed heartbreak for the Justice Department while maintaining his innocence. He said he intends to cooperate with investigators and reaffirmed his commitment to the institution he once led.

Analysts cautioned that the case tests the boundaries of prosecuting false statements to Congress and raises questions about the use of criminal charges in highly political investigations. Legal observers noted that the outcome could hinge on how prosecutors prove the intent behind Comey’s statements and how the court handles sensitive information raised during the probe. The indictment adds another high-profile legal flashpoint to a year already defined by political rancor and ongoing courtroom battles involving Trump and associates.