By Eniola Amadu
A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two charges connected to his testimony before Congress in 2020.
Comey, who has often drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump, is accused of lying to the Senate Judiciary Committee about whether he authorised the leak of classified information and of obstructing justice during the proceedings.
The indictment, made public, alleges that Comey falsely told lawmakers he had not allowed others at the FBI to serve as anonymous sources in news reports about the bureau’s investigation into “Person 1,” widely believed to be Hillary Clinton.
Prosecutors say he also sought to mislead the committee through those statements.
A third proposed count of making false statements was dismissed by the jury. If convicted on the remaining two charges, Comey could face up to five years in prison.
In a video response, the former FBI chief pleaded not guilty, insisting he was being targeted for opposing Trump.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump,” he said. “We will not live on our knees, and I am innocent. So let’s have a trial.”
The case is being led by Lindsey Halligan, the newly appointed US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and a former personal lawyer to Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the indictment underscored the Justice Department’s commitment to holding powerful figures accountable.
The charges were announced just days after Trump urged top officials to act faster against his political rivals, including Comey.
Speaking before the indictment, Trump labelled him a “bad person” but denied knowing the prosecution’s timing in advance.
However, legal experts have warned that the case may be difficult to prove. Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor, said it hinges on whether Comey intentionally lied.
“Even if James Comey got things wrong, that doesn’t mean that he knowingly or intentionally lied to Congress,” she told the BBC.
Democrats have denounced the move as politically driven. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the indictment as “a disgraceful attack on the rule of law” and promised accountability for what he called corruption.
Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017, was dismissed by Trump amid the bureau’s probe into Russian election interference.
His tenure remains controversial, particularly his decision to reopen an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s emails shortly before the 2016 election.
Comey is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday, with a formal arraignment scheduled for October 9 in Alexandria, Virginia.
