Comey faces felony charges as Trump critics call case political payback

It’s arraignment day for former F-B-I Director James Comey.

(CNN)- It’s arraignment day for former F-B-I Director James Comey — a man long at odds with President Donald Trump. Comey faces charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The Justice Department accuses him of lying to lawmakers about whether he authorized an F-B-I media leak.

Trump, who has repeatedly condemned Comey for investigating his 2016 campaign, said, “Comey and all the sleazebags. He’s a liar, and he’s a leaker.” Critics, however, argue the charges are politically motivated and amount to revenge.

Former DOJ prosecutor Ryan Crosswell said, “I believe that Mr. Comey will ultimately be vindicated,” predicting motions for grand jury misconduct and selective prosecution. Notably, no career Justice Department attorneys have signed the indictment, and no local prosecutors have appeared on the docket.

Former Trump attorney Ty Cobb added, “They couldn’t find anybody within 500 miles to show up in court and choke down the humiliation of trying to defend the United States in that case.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer congressional questions about the case, noting that Comey was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia — “one of the most liberal grand juries in the country.”

Former Trump Pentagon spokesperson Alyssa Farah Griffin said the prosecution fits a pattern, claiming, “Donald Trump wants to first and foremost intimidate those who have been detractors of his.”

Comey’s indictment follows years of tension over his 2016 investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. A 2019 report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no conspiracy or coordination with the Russian government, though it noted that “the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts.”