James Comey, the former Director of the FBI and a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, has been formally indicted on criminal charges related to his 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Justice Department indictment includes one count of making false statements and one count of obstructing justice.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi, announcing the charges, declared, “No one is above the law.”
She reiterated on X (formerly Twitter), “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people.”
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.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 25, 2025
Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 until he was fired by Trump in 2017, responded defiantly: “Let’s have a trial,” he said in a statement Thursday night, maintaining his innocence.
In a video posted on Substack, he added, “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.”
Trump has repeatedly accused Comey of wrongdoing, particularly blaming him for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to investigate alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian officials — an investigation that loomed over much of Trump’s first term.
Days before the indictment, the lead federal prosecutor in Northern Virginia — who had raised concerns about the strength of the case — was dismissed and replaced by one of Trump’s former defense attorneys.
Comey has long been a lightning rod in Trump’s political battles. Their feud reignited earlier this year when the Secret Service questioned Comey over a controversial Instagram post.
The photo, which featured seashells arranged in the numbers “86 47,” was interpreted by some, including members of Trump’s circle, as a veiled threat. While “86” is slang for “get rid of,” the number 47 refers to Trump’s presidential ranking (both as the 45th and 47th president). Comey later deleted the post, claiming it was intended as a restaurant-themed joke.
Before his tenure at the FBI, Comey served as Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush and began his legal career as a federal prosecutor in the same Virginia district now pursuing the case against him.
The charges represent a dramatic turn in the years-long, highly public clash between Trump and Comey — a rivalry that has included congressional showdowns, investigations, and frequent personal attacks. Comey once described Trump as behaving “like a mob boss,” while Trump has routinely referred to Comey as corrupt and disloyal.
Huma Nisar is Associate Editor at Views and News. She also writes opinion articles on health, society and diet.
