Comey doubled down on media leak denial after Durham inquiry, and it just got him indicted

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges he made false statements to Congress when he denied leaking to the media – putting himself in legal jeopardy after having doubled down on his 2017denials during Senate testimony in 2020.

Comey’s alleged leaking was already part of the FBI’s prior Tropic Vortex classified leaks inquiry and was reviewed by then-U.S. Attorney John Durham. However, he never faced criminal charges over his alleged leaks – until the grand jury charged him with lying to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.

Tonight law professor Jonathan Turley reacted to the news that former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two counts.
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— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) September 26, 2025

The DOJ’s new indictment, approved by a federal grand jury, stems from allegations that Comey misled the Senate during his testimony in late September 2020, when he doubled down on his May 2017 denial that he had ever authorized a leak of information to the media about the Trump-Russia investigation or Clinton-related investigations.

Comey, fired as FBI director in 2017 by President Trump, oversaw the politicized investigation into Hillary Clinton's illicit use of a private email server to send classified information and the baseless Trump-Russia collusion inquiry.

“No one is above the law,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said minutes after his indictment. “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.”

We agree with Roger Stone! If Comey leaked classified documents, which he did, why is the FBI not searching his home and office right now to see if he still has any??? Why are then not searching the home of his Columbia Professor Co-Conspirator? Why is the FBI not searching the… https://t.co/WHrhdcHkG1

— Tom Zawistowski (@TomZWTPC) September 26, 2025

Minutes later, FBI Director Kash Patel argued on social media that “for far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust” and that “nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.”

The first count of the indictment accuses Comey of making "false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the United States Government." 

The indictment alleges that Comey "did willfully and knowingly make a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement in a matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the Government of the United Stales, by falsely stating to a U.S. Senator during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that he, JAMES B. COMEY JR., had not 'authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports' regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1." The identity of "Person 1" was not specified.

The second count of the indictment alleges that Comey engaged in "obstruction of a Congressional proceeding" because he "did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct, and impede the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which an investigation was being had before the Senate Judiciary Committee by making false and misleading statements before that committee."

Read Jan 6th Prisoner Jake Lang's Response to Comey being Charged with Same Crime as Them!

The indictment comes two weeks after former Comey adviser and Columbia University law professor Daniel Richman was subpoenaed as part of a criminal probe.

The indictments were brought by interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan. The former personal Donald Trump lawyer and White House aide was sworn in Monday. She replaced Erik S. Siebert, who resigned last week, allegedly under pressure from the Trump administration to bring charges against Comey.

The indictment for false statements and for obstruction was likely able to be obtained in a jurisdiction outside the nation’s capital because, even though Comey’s testimony was made during a Senate hearing held on Capitol Hill, he appeared remotely, likely from his home across the Potomac River in Virginia.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement that Comey, if convicted, faces up to five years in prison. "Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties," the statement also reads.

Comey said on Instagram after the indictment was announced: "my heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system.” The fired FBI chief added: “And I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial. And keep the faith.”
 

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