Speaker of the House Mike Johnson defended the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey during an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union" with Jake Tapper. The interview took place on Sunday, where Tapper questioned Johnson about whether it is appropriate for a president to instruct their Attorney General to prosecute a political opponent.
Johnson responded firmly, emphasizing that it was not President Trump who indicted Comey, but rather a grand jury made up of ordinary citizens. He stated, "A grand jury… looked at the charges and they agreed. They voted to bring an indictment of James Comey—not President Trump, not the DOJ, but a grand jury."
The indictment stems from allegations that Comey lied under oath during his testimony to Congress in September 2020. Johnson pointed out that Comey had taken an oath to tell the truth and that lying to Congress constitutes perjury. He argued that everyone, including a former FBI director, must be held accountable under the law.
Johnson mentioned that there were several issues for which Comey could have faced charges, but noted that the statutes of limitations had expired on many of them.
This indictment marks a significant moment, as Comey is the first senior official from the previous administration to face charges related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The indictment was announced just days before the expiration of the statute of limitations on the claims made by Comey during his 2020 testimony.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, Johnson’s comments reflect ongoing debates about accountability and the rule of law in the context of political figures.
