# AP: “Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction” **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 26, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402 "2025-09-26T00:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/41 "2025-09-26T16:19:28Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > When Trump tweeted (or verb-ed some other way) about Comey, he also mentioned Schiff. If I were a betting man… Congress has several layers of immunity. I doubt that Schiff is under any real legal threat. I’d also note that, in the Executive Branch, there’s at least the recent decision in regards to the False Electors case that high-up officials and members of the cabinet can’t really be questioned about their day-to-day operations, as that’s private to the Executive Branch. And while it may be that Congress has oversight powers, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Trump Executive Branch has some legal opinions ready to go, saying that certain officials are empowered to mislead, hide information, and lie to Congress despite regular perjury rules - on the basis of similar theories. If I was James Comey, I’d be putting those (presuming them to exist) under the spotlight because either the Supreme Court grants him immunity - regardless of the substance of the case - or it opens up members of the Trump administration to a greater risk of perjury charges for anything they say to Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/42 "2025-09-26T16:24:03Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > … > > I wonder if the most likely outcome is a plea bargain down to something where probation is the normal sentence. Trump would hate that, but the great majority of federal criminal cases do end with a plea bargain. Wouldn’t Comey pleading guilty to _anything at all_, however minuscule, be a propaganda victory for Trump and so serve his purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/43 "2025-09-26T16:27:31Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > Wouldn’t Comey pleading guilty to _anything at all_, however minuscule, be a propaganda victory for Trump and so serve his purpose? It would. I don’t see Comey pleading guilty and I’m not ever sure this will end up going to trial. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/44 "2025-09-26T16:40:08Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Look for Fauci, Schiff, Hillary, Obama, and George Soros to be next. It doesn’t matter that no crimes were committed- there are no charges, prove your innocence! Isn’t Trump going after Letitia James, the NY AG? I hate this stupid, evil country. None of this would happen without 77 million enablers. [https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/trump-justice-department-prosecute-james-comey-adam-schiff-letitia-james](https://www.axios.com/2025/09/26/trump-justice-department-prosecute-james-comey-adam-schiff-letitia-james) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/45 "2025-09-26T17:05:20Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Having to go through judicial maneuverings at all are a means Trump is slowing himself down – or else, being slowed down. He’s tacitly accepting a constraint against extrajudicial action (e.g. having Comey, Schiff, _et al_ summarily jailed), which implies he understands that his power is even now limited. I don’t think this is a good argument. There are plenty of current and historical authoritarian regimes that go or went through the motions of (show) trials. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/46 "2025-09-26T17:34:46Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Having to go through judicial maneuverings at all are a means Trump is slowing himself down – or else, being slowed down. He’s tacitly accepting a constraint against extrajudicial action (e.g. having Comey, Schiff, _et al_ summarily jailed), which implies he understands that his power is even now limited. Because we still have an ostensible rule of law, even if the lawmakers (of the majority party) have subordinated themselves to the executive. It is clear this wasn’t any kind of well thought out plan to undermine the judiciary; it is purely the Boy-King Trump telling a prosecutor to go after someone who he considers a political enemy (even though Comey didn’t really do anything to hurt Trump and arguably helped him during the 2016 elections by way of trying to demonstrate the ‘independence’; of the FBI) and then one one prosecutor balked, finding some unqualified loyalist to step in and do it instead. He has not basis to have Comey (or Schiff, or any other member of Congress or federal employee) jailed, and even if he demanded it Susie Wiles or someone else would talk him down because that is too big of an authoritarian meal to eat in one bite. > [@psychonaut](#): > > There are plenty of current and historical authoritarian regimes that go or went through the motions of (show) trials. Yeah, despotic regimes actually love show trials because even though everybody knows they are a complete sham they give a veneer of credibility toward observing law and order while actually showing the public and any opposition that they are in complete control. The Soviet Union frequently held show trials to evidence the absolute and incontestable authority that the CPSU had over the government. > [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t see Comey pleading guilty and I’m not ever sure this will end up going to trial. Comey’s daughter, an assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York office, was [already fired](https://www.newsweek.com/james-comey-maurene-doj-firing-epstein-2101580) in what was obviously politically motivated vengeance. James Comey has zero reason or motivation to plead guilty to anything because it will just encourage more retribution toward him and his family versus forcing the Trump regime to stand up in court and present their non-existing evidence of wrongdoing. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/47 "2025-09-26T17:35:31Z")
What do people think are the odds that Comey sees jail time? I imagine it’s gotta be better than 75% based on the political environment right now. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/48 "2025-09-26T17:42:53Z")
Trump was just complaining Comey is off to a good start because the right judge isn’t presiding over the case. It looks like Trump is prepared to lose the case and is crying about how unfair the system is to cover up his inadequacies. Remember, Trump has a history of using the legal system to harass people. This was mostly civil litigation where he’s sue someone without ever expecting to win. The point was to just harass people. The only difference here is he has the power to bring criminal charges against others. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/49 "2025-09-26T18:08:31Z")
I would say zero percent. No way a jury votes 100% to convict, if it even goes to trial. I actually think the judge will just dismiss it outright. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/50 "2025-09-26T18:27:27Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > No way a jury votes 100% to convict, if it even goes to trial. I actually think the judge will just dismiss it outright. A judge doesn’t have that authority. The only time a judge can dismiss a case for lack of evidence is at trial, after the prosecution has rested, and then only when the judge finds that there isn’t even a scintilla of evidence upon which the jury could reach a finding of guilt. Issues of witness credibility are decided by juries. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/51 "2025-09-26T18:30:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The Soviet Union frequently held show trials to evidence the absolute and incontestable authority that the CPSU had over the government. That’s not why they held show trials. Nobody—not even the show trial defendants, most of whom considered themselves loyal CPSU members—disputed the CPSU’s absolute control of the government. The trials were more about demonstrating who controlled the CPSU. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/52 "2025-09-26T18:44:46Z")
Well that is when it will be dismissed then. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/53 "2025-09-26T18:53:13Z")
The Lawfare blog cited by @Sage_Rat above has another column, this timeabout the wording of the indictment. Highlight: “[T]he case is grotesquely, abusively weak…” > **[The Situation: Brief Thoughts on the Indictment of James Comey](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-situation--brief-thoughts-on-the-indictment-of-james-comey)** > > You can’t keep the facts out of a criminal case forever. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/54 "2025-09-26T19:04:23Z")
Drawing accompanying NYTimes editorial today: [![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/09/27/opinion/27justice-editorial-image/27justice-editorial-image-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp) ](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/09/27/opinion/27justice-editorial-image/27justice-editorial-image-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp) First paragraph: > The events of the past week in Virginia mark a dark new stage in President Trump’s effort to turn federal law enforcement into a personal tool of oppression and vengeance. He is undermining a core promise of the American justice system: the fair and equal enforcement of the law. > … No kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/55 "2025-09-26T19:14:05Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The Lawfare blog cited by @Sage_Rat above has another column, this timeabout the wording of the indictment. Highlight: “[T]he case is grotesquely, abusively weak…” Great link; thanks for that. Something that stood out from it: > [@](#): > > For present purposes, the relevant point is that the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, will not even identify what factual scenario she is alleging—which has the effect of preventing anyone from assessing it specifically. > > Yes, that works today, but it won’t work for long. > > [Count 2 is reproduced.] > > Note again that Halligan here does not even describe what allegedly false and misleading statements Comey supposedly made in his alleged effort to obstruct the congressional investigation in question. Her use of the plural “statements” suggests more than just the one she refers to in the previous charge. But it’s not clear what other statements she is prepared to argue were false. … So she’s making allegations without facts to support them. How did she ever make it through law school? Right now, I would have to agree with the Lawfare blog: “This case is grotesquely, abusively weak. …” ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/56 "2025-09-26T19:27:15Z")
Yeah. And the thought he would accept probation is laughable. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/57 "2025-09-26T19:44:47Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > No way a jury votes 100% to convict, if it even goes to trial. I actually think the judge will just dismiss it outright. And even if it isn’t thrown out, and he’s convicted, it’s a pretty small charge. One lie to Congress, in the course of how many hours of testimony, after how many years of investigation? He’ll get probation or a small fine, is the most I could imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/58 "2025-09-26T19:57:22Z")
I agree that it will be dismissed. But if it does go to trial, they will make sure he gets at least what Steve Bannon got. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/59 "2025-09-26T20:04:49Z")
Comey might actually prefer a trial to a dismissal. That part is up to him. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402/60 "2025-09-26T20:39:30Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The point was to just harass people. The only difference here is he has the power to bring criminal charges against others. And as seen in the TruthSocial post the other day, right now it’s about “They came after me five times! Prosecute them already!” Remember all our threads about Merrick Garland being so cautious about the steps to take that he never got anywhere? That was Trump telling his team “don’t be Merrick Garland.” (From his POV, who cares if a rushed half-baked case falls apart, we can just cook up another one and another one, the point is to torment whoever crosses me.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-lying-to-congress-and-obstruction/1023402.md?page=4)