Former FBI Director James Comey faces criminal charges in the United States, stemming from allegations of improperly disclosing information related to a congressional investigation. A formal indictment, unsealed Thursday, outlines two charges: obstruction of Congress related to testimony he provided on September 20, 2020 and making false statements to Congress during that same testimony.
The charges center around Comey’s assertions during his 2020 testimony before the Senate, wherein he maintained he had not authorized leaks of sensitive information to the press during his tenure as FBI Director. These investigations pertained to potential Russian interference in the 2016 election and alleged connections between Moscow and figures associated with the Republican party.
According to the indictment, the Justice Department alleges that Comey “knew” and “actually authorized” an unnamed contact to serve as an anonymous source in news reports concerning an FBI investigation.
The arraignment is scheduled for October 9th at the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. Comey responded to the charges via video, stating, “I am innocent, so let’s have a trial.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the principle of accountability, stating, “No one stands above the law”. She affirmed the Justice Department’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for abusing their positions of power and misleading the American public.
James Comey served as Director of the FBI from 2013 until his dismissal on May 2017. Prior to that, he held the position of Deputy Attorney General under the George W. Bush administration from 2003 to 2005.