Former FBI Director James Comey struck a defiant tone in a video shared after his indictment, insisting he is innocent and will not be intimidated by President Trump.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump. But we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,” Comey said. “We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”
Comey made the declaration in a clip shared on Instagram after he was charged Thursday with making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. They relate to testimony he delivered to Congress on Sept. 30, 2020. Prosecutors have alleged Comey lied to the Judiciary Committee when he denied authorizing an FBI official to act as an anonymous source to the media.
“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent,” Comey said in the video. “So let’s have a trial, and keep the faith.”
Instagram / comey
Former FBI Director James Comey is pictured in a video shared on Instagram after his indictment. (Instagram / comey)
Trump also took to social media to respond to the indictment, lauding the move in a post on his own Truth Social platform.
“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,” he wrote.
“Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts,” Trump added. “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.”
Comey has been in the President’s crosshairs ever since he directed the FBI to investigate Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential race and its potential ties to the Trump campaign. Their relationship only became further strained when Trump took office, and Comey was fired from his role by May 2017.
His indictment came days after the President issued a public demand for his Justice Department to act “now” and bring prosecutions against Comey and other political foes.
In the post addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the president wrote, “They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), over nothing,” and “Justice must be served, now!!”
