A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday, approving fees for a high foe of the White Home simply days after President Trump referred to as for his prosecution.
Comey was indicted on fees of constructing a false assertion, in addition to one other for obstruction.
“No one is above the law. Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case,” Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi wrote on X.
Trump took to his social media platform over the weekend to challenge a direct name to Bondi for an indictment of Comey, alongside different perceived political enemies of the president.
The decision got here after Erik Seibert, the U.S. legal professional for the Jap District of Virginia, stepped down slightly than deliver fees towards one other Trump adversary, New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James, reportedly discovering there was not sufficient proof within the case to help allegations of mortgage fraud.
Siebert was additionally overseeing the Comey case, which was then additionally handed over to Lindsey Halligan, who was tapped as an interim substitute. Halligan, a White Home staffer who practiced insurance coverage legislation earlier than she joined his legal protection group in 2022, has by no means tried a federal case.
Trump has lengthy referred to as for fees towards Comey, whom he blames for the investigation into his marketing campaign’s ties to Russia within the 2016 contest — one thing he has deemed a “witch hunt.”
The give attention to Comey stems from his congressional testimony on Sept. 30, 2020, with the fees coming simply days forward of the five-year statute of limitations on such issues.
Throughout that listening to, Comey was requested about whether or not he ever approved leaks in regards to the investigation into Trump — one thing the director denied.
Whereas he initially retained Comey as FBI director, Trump later eliminated him from his submit in 2019.
Comey has since been a Trump critic, together with posting a photograph in Could with seashells on the seashore spelling out “8647.” That too sparked an investigation into Comey, with the Trump administration arguing it was a risk towards the president. Stemming from the hospitality business, “86” can confer with both the necessity to lower off a consumer or unlist a menu merchandise.
Past the actions towards Comey, the Justice Division additionally fired his daughter, Maurene Comey, a extremely revered prosecutor within the Southern District of New York. The youthful Comey has since sued, alleging her firing was partly carried out resulting from her connection to her father.
The Related Press contributed.
