Trump rages over ‘dirty cop’ James Comey facing trial before ‘crooked’ Biden-appointed judge

WASHINTON, DC: President Donald Trump tore into former FBI Director James Comey in an early morning Truth Social post, calling him a “destroyer of lives” and a “dirty cop.”

A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted Comey late Thursday on two felony charges tied to his September 2020 testimony before Congress about the FBI’s handling of the Trump–Russia investigation.

Trump hails indictment of James Comey

On Friday morning, Trump labeled James Comey “corrupt” and said the former FBI director “lied” in his congressional testimony, urging that he pay “a very big price.”

“Whether you like Corrupt James Comey or not, and I can’t imagine too many people liking him, HE LIED! It is not a complex lie, it’s a very simple, but IMPORTANT one,” Trump wrote in his post.

“There is no way he can explain his way out of it. He is a Dirty Cop, and always has been, but he was just assigned a Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge, so he’s off to a very good start. Nevertheless, words are words, and he wasn’t hedging or in dispute,” Trump added.

The president continued, “He was very positive, there was no doubt in his mind about what he said, or meant by saying it. He left himself ZERO margin of error on a big and important answer to a question."

"He just got unexpectedly caught. James ‘Dirty Cop’ Comey was a destroyer of lives. He knew exactly what he was saying, and that it was a very serious and far reaching lie for which a very big price must be paid!” Trump added.

Minutes later, Trump followed with an all-caps post: “James Comey is a dirty cop. make America great again!”

James Comey says he is ‘not afraid’ after charges

Responding after the indictment, James Comey said he was ready to fight back against the Justice Department and the accusations.

“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,” Comey said in an Instagram video.

“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either. Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant, and she's right,” he continued. “But I'm not afraid.”

The indictment accuses James Comey of lying to Congress during his September 30, 2020, testimony about his role in the FBI’s original Trump–Russia investigation, known as “Crossfire Hurricane.”

James Comey insists on innocence and calls for trial

It also claims he gave false statements when testifying that he did not authorize anyone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. According to prosecutors, that statement was false, per Fox News.

The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505.

“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system,” Comey said in his video.

“I'm innocent. So let's have a trial and keep the faith," he declared.

Comey has retained Patrick J Fitzgerald as his attorney. “Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom.”

Comey was expected to turn himself in Friday, with his arraignment set for October 9 before District Judge Michael S Nachmanoff, who was appointed by President Joe Biden.