By: Express Web DeskNew Delhi | September 26, 2025 08:50 AM IST 3 min readThe two-count indictment does not deal with the substance of the Russian investigation but instead Comey's testimony before Congress in September 2020. (File Photo)Former FBI director James Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a criminal case, making him the first former senior government official involved in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election to face prosecution.US President Donald Trump hailed the Justice Department’s move and launched a scathing attack on Comey on Truth Social.Trump said: “JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts. 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!”The case was filed days after Trump appeared to urge Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media to prosecute him, among other perceived political opponents.Despite multiple government reviews showing Moscow’s interference in the election, Trump has maintained that the probe was a “hoax” and “witch hunt.”The criminal case against Comey has now raised concerns about the Justice Department being weaponised against whom Trump perceives as his political enemies.Following his indictment, Comey released a video statement saying, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial.”Story continues below this adThe indictment was filed by the newly appointed US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who had been one of Trump’s personal lawyers. Despite lacking experience as a federal prosecutor, she had replaced Erik Siebert, who had not charged Comey over lack of sufficient evidence.Halligan had rushed to present the case to a grand jury this week because prosecutors evaluating whether Comey lied to Congress during testimony in September, 2020, had until Tuesday to bring a case before the five-year statute of limitations expired.The two-count indictment does not deal with the substance of the Russian investigation but instead Comey’s testimony before Congress in September 2020.It comprises of charges of making a false statement and obstructing the congressional proceeding, accusing Comey of lying to the Senate Judiciary Committee when he said he had not authorized anyone else at the FBI to leak information regarding former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016.Story continues below this adEarlier this year, the department fired Comey’s daughter, Maurene, from her job as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. She has since filed a lawsuit, claiming the termination was carried out without any explanation and was done for political reasons.Similarly, Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia minutes after Comey was indicted.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd