President Donald Trump has expressed strong criticism towards the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, calling the Crossfire Hurricane investigation ‘a cloud over the entire nation’ that damaged the country’s reputation. Comey was indicted on two counts: false statements related to Congress and obstruction of congressional proceedings. Trump described the individuals involved in the Trump-Russia probe as ‘very corrupt’ and a ‘disgraceful chapter in history.’ He claimed the probe could have caused wars, highlighting its potential for severe impact. The Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law, while FBI Director Kash Patel vowed to restore public trust in law enforcement. Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation found the FBI failed to act on a warning sign that they might be the target of a political influence attempt, suggesting a broader pattern of misconduct.
Comey’s case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505. Additionally, Comey made a false statement when he claimed he did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. His arraignment is set for October 9, 2024, before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked on X, ‘No one is above the law. Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.’ FBI Director Kash Patel echoed these sentiments, stating, ‘Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on.’
In a separate development, former CIA Director John Brennan is also under criminal investigation related to the Trump-Russia probe. When asked whether Brennan should be charged, Trump responded, ‘We’ll have to see what happens.’ He described the individuals involved as ‘disappointing’ and ‘a group of people that was very disappointing,’ comparing their actions to the Watergate scandal.
Meanwhile, the conclusion of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in March 2019 found no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 election. However, John Durham, appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane probe, found that the FBI ‘failed to act’ on a ‘clear warning sign’ that they were the target of a Clinton-led effort to manipulate the law enforcement process for political purposes. Durham’s report criticized the FBI’s handling of the investigation, suggesting that the integration of the Clinton Plan intelligence could have altered the outcome significantly.
John Comey, in an Instagram post, admitted that his family has long known there are costs to standing up to President Trump. ‘We couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,’ he stated. ‘We will not live on our knees and you shouldn’t.’