Trump vows justice as Comey surrenders on charges tied to Crossfire Hurricane

Former FBI director James Comey surrendered Friday to federal authorities on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing justice in connection with his 2020 testimony about Crossfire Hurricane. The indictment comes as President Donald Trump, traveling to the Ryder Cup with his granddaughter Kai, framed the development as justice and warned that others could be indicted.

Comey was indicted on two counts of making false statements and obstruction of justice related to his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on September 30, 2020. Prosecutors said he lied about whether he authorized others at the FBI to be anonymous sources in investigations into Trump or Hillary Clinton. A third count of making false statements was not pursued by the grand jury, according to court documents.

Trump described the case as easy to prove, saying Comey lied under oath. He labeled the former FBI director a dirty cop and argued that the indictment shows justice rather than vengeance, while indicating there would be others tied to the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee, was randomly assigned to preside over the case. Nachmanoff has a background in the Eastern District of Virginia and previously served as a magistrate judge. He has handled other high-profile matters and presided over matters involving associates of Rudy Giuliani in prior cases.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin criticized the indictment as politically tinged, saying the Justice Department has become a tool for a vengeful president and questioning whether Republicans will stand up in the face of the case.

Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, filed the charges against Comey. Halligan has been described as a rising figure in conservative circles and previously served in the district's public defender’s office, later in private practice. The charges were filed as prosecutors moved to secure action before a looming statute of limitations.

Comey responded to the indictment from the social media platform, calling Trump a tyrant and saying he would not be afraid. He wrote that his family would not live on their knees and emphasized the costs of standing up to Trump.

Minutes after the indictment was announced, Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned from the Department of Justice. Edwards, the deputy chief of the National Security Section, said he was stepping down to uphold his oath to the Constitution. He had worked on high-profile cases, including the proceedings against a group tied to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

The White House declined to provide additional comment beyond Trump’s public remarks, but the president repeated his assertion that Comey should be held accountable and noted that there would be other actions in the broader investigation.

When asked about the upcoming Ryder Cup trip, Trump underscored that the case was about justice, not revenge, and signaled that further actions could follow as the Justice Department continues to pursue the matter.

The charges against Comey and the surrounding fallout reflect a highly polarized political environment in Washington, where legal developments tied to the Trump era remain a central focus of national politics. Observers will watch closely for further indictments or courtroom updates as the investigation moves forward.

The ongoing case has drawn attention from across the political spectrum as the country grapples with questions about accountability, the role of the judiciary, and the potential implications for future investigations involving sitting or former presidents and their allies. Legal analysts will be watching for procedural developments, including the schedule for hearings and any potential motions from either side.