Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two charges stemming from testimony he gave to Congress in 2020, marking one of the most high-profile prosecutions of a senior U.S. official in recent years.
The indictment, unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of Virginia, accuses Comey of making false statements and obstruction of justice during his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee five years ago.
Prosecutors allege that he misled lawmakers about whether he had authorised an FBI official to serve as an anonymous source in media reports concerning an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
The charges arrive just days after President Donald Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue Comey and other political adversaries.
Bondi said in a statement that the indictment “reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people”.
Comey, who has long been a target of Trump’s criticism, declared his innocence in a video statement.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump,” he said.
“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either. And I am innocent. So, let’s have a trial.”
If convicted, Comey could face up to five years in prison. His arraignment is scheduled for October 9 in Alexandria, Virginia, though he may make an initial court appearance as early as Friday.
The case is being led by Lindsey Halligan, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer. Her appointment followed the departure of Erik Seibert, the former prosecutor overseeing the case, who resigned amid reports of pressure from the White House.
Legal experts say the prosecution will be difficult. Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and law professor, noted that proving Comey knowingly lied is a high bar.
“Even if James Comey got things wrong, that doesn’t mean that he knowingly or intentionally lied to Congress. So proving that is going to be the heart of the case,” she told BBC News.
Democrats swiftly condemned the indictment. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it “a disgraceful attack on the rule of law,” vowing accountability for what he described as “malignant corruption.”
Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 until his dismissal by Trump in 2017, oversaw politically charged investigations into Clinton’s emails and Russian interference in the 2016 election. His firing became a flashpoint in Trump’s presidency and helped trigger the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The indictment comes just before the five-year statute of limitations on his 2020 testimony was set to expire.
Analysts say the case underscores the collapse of the traditional firewall between the White House and the Department of Justice, raising questions about political influence over federal prosecutions.
