Justice Department Close to Deciding on Charging Ex-FBI Chief Comey with Congressional Lies
Federal prosecutors are considering seeking an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey on perjury charges, with a looming deadline for a final decision, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The investigation, led by federal prosecutors at the US Attorney’s Office for Virginia’s eastern district, is focused on whether Comey made false statements during his September 30, 2020, testimony to Congress regarding the Russian meddling investigation in the 2016 US presidential election. Prosecutors typically have a five-year window under criminal law to bring charges.
If prosecutors decide to proceed and a federal grand jury approves by next week, it would be a significant indictment during President Donald Trump’s second term, targeting a prominent figure disliked by Trump and his allies as part of the "deep state."
Comey has not been charged and has maintained his truthfulness under oath. His attorney has not responded to CNN's requests for comment.
The Justice Department's handling of the Comey case has become contentious following the dismissal of Erik Siebert, the former US Attorney overseeing the investigation, by Trump. Trump has expressed frustration over what he perceives as slow progress in prosecuting his political adversaries, including Comey.
With Siebert's removal and the deadline approaching, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer, as acting US Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan has been involved in decision-making at the Justice Department regarding the Comey case.
Comey has faced scrutiny for various actions, including a social media post that some interpreted as a threat to Trump, which Comey denied. Recent declassification efforts by the Trump administration have also brought attention back to Comey's FBI oversight.
Trump's initial displeasure with Comey stemmed from his handling of the investigation into Russian ties with Trump's 2016 campaign, leading to Comey's dismissal early in Trump's presidency. Comey has faced severe criticism from Republicans for his handling of the Russia investigation and the Clinton email probe.
During his tenure as FBI director, Comey documented meetings with Trump in memos that were later leaked. A DOJ inspector general report in 2017 found that Comey violated agency policies by leaking information, though no classified information was leaked.
In his 2020 Senate testimony, Comey reiterated his previous statements that he did not leak information to the media or authorize leaks from the FBI.
CNN's Casey Gannon, Aileen Graef, and Betul Tuncer contributed to this report.