Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice. Legal experts say the case could have major implications for the former bureau chief and raises questions about accountability at the highest levels of law enforcement.

Washington

James Comey, the former director of the FBI, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts: making false statements and obstruction of justice. The indictment was issued as the statute of limitations was about to expire. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the indictment reflects the department's commitment to accountability for those in positions of power. FBI Director Kash Patel criticized previous agency leadership, referencing the investigations into Hillary Clinton's email server and alleged ties between Donald Trump and Russia. The charges are focused on testimony Comey gave to Congress in 2020. Former President Trump, who has frequently criticized Comey, responded by stating that Comey is now beginning to be held responsible for his actions.

Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two counts

Good evening, I'm Maurice DuBois. John Dickerson is off tonight, and we begin with late breaking news. A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment today against James Comey, the former director of the FBI and longtime nemesis of President Trump. The charges making false statements and obstruction of justice. The indictment comes as the statute of limitations was about to run out. Ed O'Keefe at the White House has details. He was a terrible person, did terrible things. President Trump has railed about James Comey for nearly a decade. Now, the former FBI director has been charged with one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice. I just want people to act. They have to act, and we want to act fast. And tonight, it appears they did. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the indictment reflects her department's commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. FBI Director Kash Patel said previous corrupt leadership of his agency weaponized law enforcement. Nowhere was that more blatant, he said, than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose. As director of the FBI in the mid-2010s, Comey oversaw investigations into Hillary Clinton's email server and Trump's ties to Russia. The Constitution of the United States. So help me God. So help me God. Trump fired Comey just four months into his first term. The two have slammed each other periodically ever since. Clapper and Comey and that whole group of criminals, they're criminals, and they made it very tough. You know, they did the fake Russia, Russia, Russia witch hunt that lasted for two years. Just five days ago, the president posted this message, publicly urging Bondi to file unspecified charges against Comey and two other political enemies. He also posted that he'd fired the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Trump's former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, who has no prosecutorial experience, was sworn in on Monday, and the case against Comey was revived. The charges focus on this testimony Comey made to Congress in 2020. I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by what the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017. Responding to the indictment tonight, President Trump said Comey, quote, has been so bad for this country for so long and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our nation. Maurice. Ed O'Keefe of the White House, thank you.

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Los Angeles

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Yangjiang

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Breakdown