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Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

Published

7 months ago

September 26, 2025

Former FBI Director James Comey

Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

A federal grand jury in the US state of Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two charges related to his testimony to Congress.

Mr Comey, who has long drawn US President Donald Trump’s criticism, is accused of lying to Congress during his September 2020 testimony over whether he authorised the leak of classified information to the media.

Responding to the indictment, Mr Comey declared himself innocent and said he had “great confidence in the federal judicial system”.

The indictment comes days after Trump called on the country’s top law enforcement official, Attorney General Pam Bondi, to more aggressively investigate his political adversaries, including Mr Comey.

The probe is being led by Lindsey Halligan, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was previously Trump’s personal lawyer and took over her new role on Monday.

Mr Comey’s arraignment – where charges are formally read out in front of a defendant in court – has been set for the morning of 9 October in Alexandria, Virginia at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT), the BBC’s US partner CBS reports.

Bondi said in a statement that the indictment “reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people”.

Mr Comey has been charged with one count of making false statements and another of obstruction of justice.

The first count relates to Mr Comey telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that he had not “authorised someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports” regarding his conversations with Trump over an FBI investigation into whether Russia meddled with the 2016 presidential election.

The second count alleges that Mr Comey “did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede” the Senate Judiciary Committee investigation by making false statements to it.

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The Justice Department asked the grand jury to consider three charges against Mr Comey, but it could only agree that two of them were backed by enough evidence to be tried in court.

The third count was another charge of making false statements.

A grand jury is a group of citizens set up by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence for charges to be filed. In legal terms, it determines whether probable cause exists to believe a crime has been committed.

Mr Comey is the first ex-FBI director to be indicted for a crime, and he maintains that he has not lied under oath.

If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison.

A lawyer for Mr Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, issued a short staying saying his client denied the charges, adding: “We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom.”

Mr Comey said in a separate video statement: “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.”

“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either,” he continued, adding: “And, I am innocent. So, let’s have a trial.”

The charges were filed shortly before the five-year statute of limitations was set to expire on Tuesday.

The case had recently been handed over to a new prosecutor after Erik Seibert, the original US attorney overseeing the case, was fired by the Trump administration. He was replaced by Ms Halligan.

According to charging documents, Mr Comey made his alleged false statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee “willfully and knowingly”, as Mr Comey had directed an unnamed person “to serve as an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation”.

This meant Mr Comey “did corruptly endeavour to influence, obstruct and impede the due and proper exercise of the power of the inquiry” of the committee on around 30 September 2020, the document states.

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At that 2020 congressional hearing, Mr Comey reaffirmed his 2017 testimony that he did not disclose or approve the disclosure of information about FBI investigations into either Trump or his 2016 presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

A series of memos by Mr Comey detailing his conversations with Trump were disclosed to the media in 2017.

In them, Mr Comey wrote that Trump had suggested that he drop an investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn’s contact with Russia.

The case is considered to be the highest-profile indictments of a public figure during Trump’s second term.

Trump recently voiced his frustration that prosecutions of his public critics such as Mr Comey, Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Leticia James are taking so long.

“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” Trump said on Truth Social last week.

After charges were filed, Trump called Mr Comey “one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to”.

“He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Asked about Mr Comey hours before the indictment was unsealed, Trump called him a “bad person” but said he had no advanced knowledge of his prosecution.

Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, said it will be a very challenging case to prosecute.

“It’s often the defendant’s word against someone else’s and you’re gonna have to look at the credibility of both,” she tells BBC News.

“And even if James Comey got things wrong, that doesn’t mean that he knowingly or intentionally lied to Congress. So proving that is going to be the heart of the case.”

Ms Levenson also said this prosecution and Trump’s public pressure to move forward on it suggests that the traditional firewall between the White House and the US Department of Justice had “collapsed with this case”.

Several Democrats condemned the charges, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries denouncing them as “a disgraceful attack on the rule of law”, and vowing “accountability” for “anyone complicit in this malignant corruption”.

Mr Comey served as the FBI’s director between 2013 and 2017.

He had a tumultuous tenure that included overseeing the high-profile inquiry into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s email just weeks before the 2016 election, which she lost to Trump.

He was fired by Trump amid an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

This is not the first investigation into the former FBI boss to be launched this year.

He was investigated by the Secret Service after he shared and then deleted a social media post of seashells spelled the numbers “8647”, which Republicans alleged was an incitement to violence against US President Donald Trump.

The number 86 is a slang term whose definitions include “to reject” or “to get rid of”, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which also notes that it has more recently been used as a term meaning “to kill”, while Trump is the 47th US president.

In July, Mr Comey’s daughter Maurene Comey was fired from her role as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. She was given no reason for being removed from the office where she had worked for 10 years, according to media reports.

Earlier this month, she sued the Trump administration over her dismissal.

The Justice Department has been firing lawyers who worked on cases that angered the president, including a special prosecutor investigation of Trump.

Additional reporting by Sumi Somaskanda

Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

BBC

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Trump Says US Warships Being Reloaded With Weapons to Strike Iran If Pakistan Talks Fail

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April 10, 2026

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United States President Donald Trump

Trump Says US Warships Being Reloaded With Weapons to Strike Iran If Pakistan Talks Fail

United States President Donald Trump has said American warships are being rearmed with advanced weaponry and prepared for possible strikes against Iran if ongoing peace negotiations in Pakistan fail to produce an agreement.

In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said the United States is in what he described as a “reset” phase, insisting that military readiness is being strengthened while diplomatic talks continue.

“We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made — even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart,” Trump was quoted as saying.

“And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.”

His remarks come as Vice President JD Vance leads a high-level U.S. delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, for crucial Iran peace talks in Pakistan aimed at preventing a renewed escalation in the Middle East.

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Vance, who is known for his scepticism toward long-term military interventions, is expected to engage Iranian officials in discussions focused on stabilising a fragile ceasefire and preventing further military confrontation.

Before departing, Vance issued a warning to Tehran, telling Iranian authorities not to “play” the United States, signalling Washington’s firm stance ahead of the negotiations.

According to diplomatic sources, the talks will address key issues including nuclear compliance, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, and sanctions-related disputes that have fueled tensions between both countries.

President Trump also posted a cryptic message on his Truth Social platform, referring to what he called the “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!!”, further fueling speculation about Washington’s combined military and diplomatic strategy.

The Pakistan-hosted talks bring together senior U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, alongside Iranian representatives led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Iran’s participation underscores ongoing efforts by both sides to prevent a full-scale collapse of the ceasefire, which has already been strained by mutual accusations of violations.

Analysts say the outcome of the Islamabad negotiations could determine whether the crisis moves toward a lasting settlement or escalates into renewed military confrontation with wider regional consequences.

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Trump Orders JD Vance to Lead Iran War Exit Strategy Ahead of Pakistan Talks

Published

17 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Trends Admin

US Vice President JD Vance

Trump Orders JD Vance to Lead Iran War Exit Strategy Ahead of Pakistan Talks

United States President Donald Trump has reportedly instructed Vice President JD Vance to urgently explore diplomatic pathways to end the ongoing U.S.–Iran war crisis, as preparations intensify for high-level peace talks scheduled to hold in Pakistan.

The directive comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns that a fragile ceasefire arrangement could collapse, potentially triggering a wider escalation in the region.

Vice President JD Vance, known for his long-standing scepticism toward prolonged U.S. military interventions abroad, is expected to depart on April 10 for Islamabad, where he will lead the American delegation in the upcoming Iran peace talks in Pakistan.

He will be accompanied by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, both of whom have previously been involved in indirect diplomatic engagements with Iranian officials on nuclear issues and regional security concerns.

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The talks are expected to focus on de-escalation measures, nuclear-related assurances, and broader security arrangements aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has also confirmed its participation in the negotiations, sending a high-level delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The Iranian team is expected to present its position on sanctions relief, regional security, and maritime concerns, particularly issues relating to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

Reports indicate that the temporary ceasefire between both sides is increasingly under strain, with accusations of violations and renewed mistrust threatening to derail diplomatic progress.

President Trump has publicly accused Iran of failing to honour commitments linked to maritime security, writing on Truth Social: “That is not the agreement we have!”

The statement has added fresh tension to already fragile negotiations and raised concerns about possible disruptions to global energy markets if hostilities resume.

Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic venue for the talks, hosting both direct and indirect engagements between U.S. and Iranian officials in an effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Diplomatic observers say the outcome of the Islamabad meeting could determine whether the crisis moves toward a lasting ceasefire or deeper confrontation involving regional and global powers.

The growing urgency of the negotiations reflects mounting international pressure on Washington and Tehran to reach a political settlement and avoid further destabilisation of the Middle East.

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Hajj 2026: US Warns Citizens Over Travel Risks to Saudi Arabia

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23 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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Hajj 2026: US Warns Citizens Over Travel Risks to Saudi Arabia

The United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia has advised American citizens to reconsider participating in the Hajj pilgrimage this year, citing ongoing regional security concerns and intermittent travel disruptions across parts of the Middle East.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the embassy referenced the Saudi Arabia travel advisory, warning that the current security environment remains unstable and could affect movement and access to holy sites during the pilgrimage season.

“Per the Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory, and due to the ongoing security situation and intermittent travel disruptions, we advise reconsidering participation in Hajj this year,” the embassy said.

It also announced new entry regulations for Mecca ahead of the pilgrimage period, stating that from April 18, only individuals with valid permits will be allowed access. These include a Hajj permit, a Mecca-issued residency ID, or a valid work permit linked to Mecca. The embassy further warned that individuals on other visa categories should leave Mecca before the enforcement date to avoid penalties.

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The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime. Each year, millions of pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for the rites performed in and around Mecca.

The advisory comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with ongoing conflicts and security incidents affecting several countries in the region. The U.S. has previously warned that instability could disrupt air travel routes, border crossings, and emergency response capacity in affected areas.

Regional tensions have escalated in recent months following intensified military exchanges involving Israel and Iran, along with related spillover effects across neighbouring countries. These developments have raised concerns over aviation safety, infrastructure security, and crowd management during major international gatherings such as Hajj.

The embassy also urged American citizens already in the Kingdom or planning to travel to remain vigilant and closely monitor official travel updates issued by both U.S. and Saudi authorities.

While no evacuation order has been issued, officials stressed that travellers should carefully reconsider non-essential trips depending on their personal risk assessment.