Trump says 'price must be paid' as Comey surrenders on lying-to-Congress charges

President Donald Trump said the 'price must be paid' as former FBI Director James Comey prepared to surrender to authorities on charges that he lied to Congress about the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Comey was indicted last Thursday on charges stemming from his September 30, 2020 testimony before Congress. Trump spoke to reporters before heading to the Ryder Cup golf tournament with his granddaughter Kai, framing the development as a matter of justice rather than revenge.

'It is about justice. Not revenge. It is about justice,' Trump said, calling Comey a 'dirty cop' and alleging that 'They are sick, radical left people. And they can't get away with it.' He described the case as 'pretty easy' because Comey allegedly lied under oath and provided a specific answer that he later could be shown to have verified repeatedly. The president said he did not have a personal 'list' of people to indict, but suggested that 'there will be others' in what he described as a broader political prosecution.

Trump argued that Comey exploited the Justice Department for political ends and contended that Comey's actions were among the worst examples of the bureau being used for political purposes. 'Comey essentially is worse than a Democrat. I would say the Democrats are better than Comey,' he said, adding that the former director had longstanding personal and institutional credibility concerns to answer for.

Trump’s remarks unfolded as he prepared to depart for the Ryder Cup with Kai, while the indictment against Comey fed into a broader narrative about accountability in a polarized political climate. The White House signaled that Trump would continue to use his public appearances to frame the case as part of a broader fight for justice, while opponents argued the indictments underscored a deeply partisan environment.

Joy Behar, a co-host of The View, weighed in on the political fallout, saying she was glad Trump targeted Comey—partly because of how Comey acted during Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. Behar referenced Comey’s letter about Clinton's use of a personal email server, saying she did not agree with Comey’s handling but that she found herself aligning with Trump on the broader issue of accountability.

Comey, in turn, addressed the indictment by calling Trump a 'tyrant' and challenging him to a trial while insisting he was not afraid. In a post on Instagram, Comey said that he and his family have long understood there are costs to standing up to Trump, but that they would not live 'on our knees' and urged others to resist fear.

The developments come as the country watches a continuing cycle of legal and political confrontations involving Trump and figures from his administration, with observers noting that the case against Comey adds a new layer to an already polarized landscape. The Ryder Cup trip provides a moment of public attention away from courtroom headlines, but the underlying tensions show no sign of abating as the fall political calendar progresses.