James Comey says 'I am not afraid,' expects Trump will target him again after dismissal

WASHINGTON, DC: Former FBI Director James Comey spoke out after the dismissal of his federal indictment and said he expects President Trump to target him again. 

In tandem, Letitia James, the New York Attorney General whose case related to this matter was also dismissed, shared her response.

James Comey response and expectations

Comey celebrated the dismissal of his case in an Instagram video, calling the message behind the dismissal meaningful.

He said, “I am innocent, I am not afraid, and I believe in an independent federal judiciary. A gift from our founders that protects us from a would-be tyrant.”

In his video, Comey described the prosecution as “a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence and a reflection of what the Department of Justice has become under Donald Trump, which is heartbreaking.”

He added, “A message has to be sent that the president of the United States cannot use the Department of Justice to target his political enemies. I don’t care what your politics are, you have to see that as fundamentally un-American and a threat to the rule of law that keeps all of us free.”

Comey further acknowledged he expects Trump to “come after me again” and said his attitude will remain unchanged despite the possibility of further legal action. He emphasized his belief in the independent judiciary as a safeguard against abuse of power. 

The White House reacted to the Comey and James case dismissals with a statement from spokesperson Abigail Jackson: “The facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed and this will not be the final word on this matter.”

In the original indictment, Comey had been charged with one count of giving a false statement and one count of obstruction of justice, related to his September 2020 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Comey was the first senior government official who investigated Trump’s 2016 campaign over possible Russia ties to face federal charges. When the indictment was announced in September, Trump called Comey “one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to.”

Letitia James remarks on case dismissal

A federal judge dismissed Letitia James’s case, ruling that the handpicked prosecutor assigned to the matter was unconstitutional.

James responded, saying, “I am heartened by today’s victory. I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day. I am grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.” 

Prior to her October hearing, James called the charges 'tool of revenge' but expressed faith in the justice system to clear her name.

In February 2024, her office won a civil fraud judgment against Trump and the Trump Organization, which resulted in a three-year business ban in New York.