Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying, obstruction

(NewsNation) — Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday for making a false statement and obstruction of justice, days after President Trump had urged the Justice Department to bring charges against Comey and others he believes have wronged him.

The charges were condemned by Democrats on Capitol Hill, who said the Republican president was seeking to persecute his political enemies.

Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said a federal grand jury returned an indictment with the charges. They are related to Comey's oral testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020, about potential collusion between Russia and the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

“The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level,” Halligan said. “The balance of power is a bedrock principal of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight. Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.”

Halligan took over as top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia after Erik Siebert resigned or was fired last week, as the Justice Department faced a Sept. 30 deadline to have Comey indicted for the Senate testimony. President Trump, who fired Comey early in his first administration, was critical of Siebert and on Sept. 20 expressed impatience with the Justice Department for the progress of its cases against Comey and other Trump enemies.

"Donald Trump forced out a respected U.S. Attorney because they wouldn't go along with Trump’s demands for political prosecutions," said Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and Trump nemesis. "Less than a week later, his inexperienced handpicked successor brings charges against a member of Trump's enemies list. In my almost six years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I never witnessed such a blatant abuse of the department. The DOJ is now little more than an arm of the president’s retribution campaign."

Trump elated at James Comey indictment

Trump wasted little time in rejoicing over Comey's indictment on Truth Social, calling the former FBI director "One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to."

The president added: "He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation."

If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.

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