Former FBI Director James Comey indicted on 2 counts

[ad_1] Washington — Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on two counts, marking a significant escalation in President Trump's efforts to focus on his political opponents and use the Justice Division as a part of his marketing campaign to hunt retribution in opposition to his most ardent critics.

Comey was charged with one depend of creating false statements and one depend of obstruction of justice, associated to Senate testimony he gave nearly 5 years in the past. A majority of grand jurors didn't approve indicting him on an extra depend of mendacity to Congress, in response to court docket papers — an uncommon growth since grand juries not often reject fees.

In a press release, Legal professional Common Pam Bondi alleged that Comey "obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of delicate info" and made a false assertion to Congress.

"Comey acknowledged that he didn't authorize somebody on the FBI to be an nameless supply. In line with the indictment that assertion was false," Bondi's assertion learn.

"Nobody is above the legislation," Bondi wrote on X. "As we speak's indictment displays this Division of Justice's dedication to holding those that abuse positions of energy accountable for deceptive the American folks. We are going to comply with the information on this case."

Mr. Trump celebrated the indictment in a Reality Social put up, calling the previous FBI director — whom he fired in 2017 — "One of many worst human beings this Nation has ever been uncovered to."

Comey asserted his innocence in a video on Instagram and mentioned, "there are prices to standing as much as Donald Trump."

"My coronary heart is damaged for the Division of Justice, however I've nice confidence within the federal judicial system. And I am harmless. So let's have a trial. And preserve the religion," he mentioned.

Comey's lawyer, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, mentioned in a press release: "Jim Comey denies the fees filed at present of their entirety. We stay up for vindicating him within the courtroom."

Comey is ready to be arraigned on the morning of Oct. 9 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Comey fees deal with testimony to Congress The indictment was returned within the Jap District of Virginia because the clock ticked down on the five-year statute of limitations for fees arising out of his September 2020 testimony to Congress, which was set to run out Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Comey appeared earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020 to reply questions in regards to the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling within the 2016 election, generally known as "Crossfire Hurricane." The probe, which has pissed off Mr. Trump for years, was later taken over by particular counsel Robert Mueller.

Throughout that listening to, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas requested Comey about earlier testimony in 2017 denying having been an nameless supply or authorizing one other FBI official to be an nameless supply for information reviews in regards to the FBI's investigations into Mr. Trump or Hillary Clinton. The probe involving Clinton examined her use of a non-public e-mail server whereas serving as secretary of state.

Comey informed Cruz in 2020 that he stood by his earlier testimony.

However a lawyer for Andrew McCabe, Comey's former deputy, mentioned in 2018 that McCabe approved the disclosure of knowledge to a Wall Avenue Journal reporter in 2016 in regards to the Clinton investigation with Comey's information. The lawyer made the declare in response to an investigation by the Justice Division's inner watchdog , which discovered McCabe "lacked candor" when he informed Comey, or led Comey to consider, that he had not approved the disclosure.

Thursday's indictment referred to as Comey's assertion that he hadn't approved anyone to function an nameless supply "materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent."

Comey testified earlier than Congress from his house in McLean, Virginia, which is why the previous FBI director was investigated within the state's jap judicial district.

The fees come simply days after the president tapped his former protection lawyer and White Home aide, Lindsey Halligan, to quickly lead the U.S. Legal professional's Workplace for the Jap District of Virginia. Halligan, who has no prosecutorial expertise, took over as interim U.S. lawyer following the abrupt departure of Erik Siebert amid obvious stress from the president and his allies to convey prison fees in opposition to New York Legal professional Common Letitia James.

The Comey indictment is signed solely by Halligan, and no different rank-and-file prosecutors' names seem on the charging paperwork.

Halligan mentioned in a press launch, "The fees as alleged on this case signify a breach of the general public belief at a unprecedented stage."

Siebert knowledgeable employees on Friday, Sept. 19, that he had resigned, an announcement that got here after a number of sources informed CBS Information that prosecutors in his workplace have been involved Siebert might be eliminated for failing to prosecute James for alleged mortgage fraud. James has denied any wrongdoing. Mr. Trump has mentioned he fired Siebert .

The president publicly voiced frustration to Legal professional Common Pam Bondi for the dearth of motion in opposition to Comey, James and Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, one other political opponent, and warned on social media it was "killing our status and credibility."

"They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 instances!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" Mr. Trump wrote on the social media platform Reality Social, referring to the federal and state prison instances introduced in opposition to him.

He introduced Halligan as his choose to steer the Jap District of Virginia shortly after, writing she is "honest, good and can present desperately wanted, JUSTICE FOR ALL!"

Comey and Mr. Trump have sparred for years. Comey served as FBI director from 2013 till he was fired by Mr. Trump in 2017, throughout the president's first White Home time period.

That firing in the end set into movement Mueller's particular counsel investigation into allegations that Russia interfered within the 2016 presidential election and that the Trump marketing campaign coordinated with the Kremlin. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denounced these allegations as a "hoax."

For his half, Comey has been a vocal critic of Mr. Trump since his firing, calling him "morally unfit" to be president in a 2018 interview .

Earlier this 12 months, Comey provoked an outcry from the Trump administration after he briefly posted a photograph on social media that administration officers alleged was a name for violence in opposition to Mr. Trump. Consequently, Secret Service brokers interviewed Comey for about an hour and a half.

In an interview, Mr. Trump mentioned it was "loud and clear" that Comey was calling for his assassination, telling Fox Information that any fees for the put up needs to be left to Bondi. Comey denied advocating violence.

Since returning to the White Home for a second time period, the president has been engaged in wide-ranging efforts to go after his political opponents and has used completely different levers of the federal authorities to take action. His administration revoked safety clearances from former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, amongst others . He additionally directed that safety clearances of 37 present and former nationwide safety officers be rescinded.

Mr. Trump additionally ended Secret Service safety for Harris, former nationwide safety adviser John Bolton , and Biden's two youngsters, Hunter and Ashley Biden .

Extra from CBS Information

Jacob Rosen

Jake Rosen is a reporter overlaying the Division of Justice. He was beforehand a marketing campaign digital reporter overlaying President Trump's 2024 marketing campaign and in addition served as an affiliate producer for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," the place he labored with Brennan for 2 years on the published. Rosen has been a producer for a number of CBS Information podcasts, together with "The Takeout," "The Debrief" and "Agent of Betrayal: The Double Lifetime of Robert Hanssen."