Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday evening on two felony counts as part of an ongoing probe into the actions of Obama administration officials and their handling of the investigation that would later become known as “Russia-gate.”
Comey was charged with one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstruction of justice. The charges stem from his September 30, 2020 testimony, where prosecutors allege he misled lawmakers about authorizing the leak of information tied to the FBI’s probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Comey, appointed FBI Director in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama, launched Operation Crossfire Hurricane in July 2016. The probe examined claims that Donald Trump’s campaign had coordinated with Moscow — allegations which years later were discredited.
In May 2017, Trump fired Comey as the Russia investigation was gaining momentum. Weeks later, Comey provided a memo of an interaction he had with Trump to a friend, who then leaked it to the press. That leak led to the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel. Mueller’s 2019 report concluded that there was no evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia, nor proof that Moscow had altered the outcome of the election.
Following his dismissal, Comey became a prominent anti-Trump media figure. Earlier this year, he drew renewed controversy after posting a photo to Instagram showing seashells arranged to read “8647,” interpreted by some as a veiled threat against Trump, the 47th president.
Comey’s indictment could signal a broader legal push against Obama-era officials. Trump, who has long accused his political rivals of weaponizing federal agencies against him, has repeatedly promised accountability. Last week, he lashed out at Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing her of being “all talk, no action” on pursuing indictments of former officials tied to Russia-gate.