Former FBI Director James Comey, a key player in the “Russian collusion” hoax, has been indicted on federal charges. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed late Thursday that a federal grand jury has indicted Comey on one charge of obstructing a congressional investigation into the leaking of sensitive or classified information and one charge of lying to Congress while under oath. According to the DOJ, Comey authorized then-deputy director of the FBI Andrew McCabe to leak information to the press related to manufactured allegations that then-president-elect Donald Trump had benefitted from illegal election interference on the part of Russia. Comey allegedly lied when asked about the event by Congress.

“No one is above the law,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case,” she added. Current FBI Director Kash Patel observed, “For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust.” He continued, “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. Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account — no matter their perch.”

“JUSTICE IN AMERICA!” President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social, in response to news of the indictment. “One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts,” the president said. “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.”

In an Instagram video responding to the indictment, Comey claimed that he was being unfairly targeted by the Trump administration. “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. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t, either,” Comey said, standing in front of a wall and speaking directly into the camera. Referring to the president as a “tyrant,” he continued, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial.”

The judge assigned to Comey’s case is Michael Nachmanoff of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Nachmanoff was appointed to the judiciary by former president Joe Biden on the recommendation of Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the latter of whom was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s running mate against Trump in the 2016 election, which resulted in the “Russian collusion hoax.”

Kaine himself said in a statement, “I’ve had my differences with James Comey in the past, but I can spot trumped-up charges a mile away.” He continued to allege that Trump is targeting political opponents. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) followed suit. “Trump ordered this prosecution. I’m sure he ordered it behind closed doors, but he also ordered it right there on Truth Social,” Klobuchar said in an interview Thursday night. “He is literally weaponizing the Justice Department,” the senator quipped.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), a rising star in the Democratic Party, warned Republicans not to support the Comey prosecution. “I want the American people to know that when you stand up to a bully, you win. Do not back down. Do not bend. You allow them to go and wage their threats,” Crockett said. “If everybody starts to bend, for sure, what is left of our democracy will be gone. And unfortunately, that is exactly what [Trump] wants. And even more sadly is that many of his followers agree with this,” the congresswoman added. “If he decides that he wants to continue down this path, I think that they’re going to continue to lose. I don’t see the former FBI director saying that he is going to just go ahead and enter into a plea deal, or he’s just going to take this lying down.”

Last month, the DOJ launched a grand jury investigation into the “Russian collusion” hoax and its origins, following the declassification and publication of numerous documents by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard. Those documents revealed that Comey was a key player in orchestrating and disseminating the falsified narrative that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election in an effort to install a compromised Trump in the White House. Other key players include then-President Barack Obama, then-DNI James Clapper, and then-CIA Director James Brennan.

The statute of limitations to bring federal charges against Comey was set to expire on Tuesday. His arraignment has been scheduled for October 6.