Trump slams Comey as indictment details surface; new MAGA prosecutor presses case

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on two counts of making false statements and obstruction of justice in connection with his 2020 testimony about the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into potential ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Court documents show a grand jury also declined to indict him on a third count, described as an additional charge of making false statements. The charges arise from Comey’s Senate Judiciary Committee appearance on Sept. 30, 2020, when he detailed the bureau’s handling of the Russia probe. The case does not address the substance of the Russia investigation itself, but centers on whether Comey lied about elements of the investigation and related leaks during testimony before Congress.

Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, filed the criminal charges on direct orders from President Donald Trump, according to court filings reported by major outlets. Halligan, who was appointed after the prior U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, was ousted last week, led the filing against Comey in a case that prosecutors described as a breach of public trust at an extraordinary level. The New York Times reported that Halligan acted in a race against the clock to file charges before potential statutes of limitations expired, with Halligan stating that accountability and a forthright presentation of facts are foundational to democracy. Comey’s legal team has signaled that he will contest the charges in court.

Trump reacted to the indictment in a televised interview, telling Fox News that Comey had “nearly started a war” by launching Crossfire Hurricane and calling him “one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.” The president suggested more prosecutions could be on the horizon and criticized what he described as a politicized Department of Justice. Trump also used his social media channels to celebrate the indictment, reiterating his view that the Russia investigation was a hoax aimed at derailing his administration.

Comey issued a public response opposing the charges, describing Trump as a tyrant and urging a trial to prove his innocence. In an Instagram video, he said he would not be cowed and stressed that he and his family have long faced costs for resisting what he described as political pressure. He added that he has confidence in the federal judiciary and intends to defend himself in court. Comey’s attorney, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, said the charges would be denied in court and that Comey intends to vindicate himself.

Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly confirmed the charges late Thursday, framing them as an example of accountability under the law. Bondi said the Justice Department would follow the facts and pursue the case as part of its broader mission to ensure that “no one is above the law.” The charges come as critics warn that the ongoing Russia-related probes have become deeply entangled with partisan politics and questions about agency independence.

Historically, Crossfire Hurricane was the focus of the FBI’s 2016-2019 inquiry into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow. Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that the campaign conspired with Russia, though prosecutors found that Russian interference did occur and that the Trump campaign benefited from it. A separate investigation led by John Durham produced several criminal cases but did not indict senior government officials connected to the Russia investigation. The latest indictment against Comey does not challenge the underlying conclusions of the Russia inquiry but rather targets statements Comey allegedly made about the investigation and about his handling of related memos and leaks.

The case has intensified the national debate over DOJ independence and the appearance of political influence in prosecutions tied to highly sensitive investigations. Trump has long claimed that the Russia inquiry was unjustified or manufactured for political ends, and proponents of the indictment say it underscores the principle that government officials must be truthful under oath. The broader political environment surrounding the case remains highly charged as both sides assess potential consequences for the 2024-25 political landscape.

Earlier this year, Comey’s public profile in the dispute took a controversial turn after a social media post in May 2025 that some interpreted as coded language amid political tensions. The post, which showed seashells arranged in a sequence, prompted allegations of signaling violence by some supporters but was quickly disputed by Comey and his defenders. Secret Service officials conducted an inquiry into the matter, and Comey voluntarily met with protective agents for a stated period. While investigators examined the post's intent, the focus for prosecutors remains Comey’s 2020 Senate appearance and the circumstances surrounding any disclosures tied to the investigation.

The Dylan-esque volatility surrounding the Russia inquiry and its aftermath continues to color the legal and political conversation in Washington, with lawmakers on both sides weighing the implications for accountability, national security policy, and how future investigations will be conducted.