Former FBI director James Comey indicted

Former FBI director James Comey was indicted on Thursday evening in Virginia federal court and charged with making false statements to Congress, a source familiar with the matter told Axios. Why it matters: The indictment of a former FBI director is unprecedented and the culmination of a years-long feud between Comey and President Trump. What we're watching: An attorney representing Comey couldn't be immediately reached by Axios for comment.The latest: "For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust," FBI director Kash Patel said on X."Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose," he added."Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account - no matter their perch."Attorney General Pam Bondi also said that no one is above the law."Today's indictment reflects this Department of Justice's commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people," she said on X. We will follow the facts in this case."State of play: The Justice Department's decision comes shortly after Erik Siebert, a former U.S. Attorney in Virginia, resigned from his position. Siebert oversaw the cases against Comey and New York Attorney General Leticia James. Siebert had expressed doubts about the cases and had declined to bring forward criminal charges against Comey or James. Trump told reporters on Sept. 19 that he "wanted [Siebert] out," prompting the attorney's resignation hours later.Trump later claimed he fired Siebert from the post, and replaced him with Lindsey Halligan, one of his former personal lawyers, as acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.Catch up quick: Trump abruptly fired Comey in 2017, initially citing his handling of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, but later admitted he did so because of the Russian collusion probe. The firing led to Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel, whose report documented dozens of links between Trump campaign officials and Russian operatives, but stopped short of charging a criminal conspiracy. After leaving office, Comey leaked memos he'd kept detailing his interactions with Trump — records that later became central to obstruction of justice questions.In 2020, Comey testified before Congress to defend the FBI's 2016 "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation into possible ties between the Trump Campaign and Russia, where Republican senators accused him of lying about authorized leaks. Comey maintained in testimony that he was truthful under oath. What's next: Comey is expected to appear in federal court in Virginia in the coming days to be arraigned. Go deeper: Former FBI Director James Comey indictedEditor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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