(TSN): Former FBI Director James Comey is in an Alexandria, VA courtroom today facing federal charges. The former top cop is being arraigned for Trump is accused of influencing the indictment of a political foe as a part of a retribution campaign. The indictment came years after he left the position the charges are related to.
The charges — obstruction of an official proceeding and making false statements — were brought by a grand jury in late September, just days before the statute of limitations expired.
Comey pleaded not guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee. The judge set a trial date for January 5, 2026.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny due to its origins. President Donald Trump personally pushed for Comey’s prosecution, repeatedly posting on Truth Social that Comey was “guilty as hell” and accusing former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert of delaying the case. Siebert resigned under pressure, and Trump installed Lindsey Halligan — a former insurance attorney with no prosecutorial experience — as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Legal experts have questioned the validity of Halligan’s appointment, suggesting it may render the indictment itself invalid. “If she was not lawfully appointed, the indictment would likely be invalid,” said Liz Oyer, a former Justice Department pardon attorney.
Comey’s attorney, former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, has not commented on whether they will challenge the indictment’s legality. However, speculation is mounting that the defense may file motions to dismiss the case on grounds of vindictive prosecution or improper appointment.
The arraignment was held under tight security, with no electronics permitted in the courtroom. Comey’s wife, Patrice, and daughter Maurene — herself a former federal prosecutor recently fired by the Trump administration — were in attendance.
This marks Comey’s first appearance as a criminal defendant, in a case that critics say exemplifies the Trump administration’s use of the justice system to target political adversaries
The trial date has been set for Jan. 5. 2026.