RELEASE: Ranking Member Raskin’s Statement on Trump’s DOJ Filing Criminal Charges Against Former FBI Director James Comey

Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2025)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration has obtained an indictment against former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. This move comes after Trump forced the resignation of Erik Siebert, the Republican, Trump-appointed former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who concluded there was no basis to bring criminal charges against Mr. Comey: 

“Today, after firing his own choice for U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Donald Trump finally got a subservient new replacement to carry out his revenge prosecution against former FBI Director James Comey by bringing baseless criminal charges against him.

“Erik Seibert, a well-regarded Republican U.S. Attorney for EDVA, had accepted Trump’s direct orders to investigate and seek charges against Mr. Comey, along with other perceived political enemies. But Seibert came up with zero evidence to pursue criminal charges against Comey. He could not, consistent with his professional and constitutional oaths, indict someone for no reason.

“But Trump refuses to allow the facts or the law to stand in the way of his wrath and vengeance campaign.

“He forced Mr. Seibert to resign in order to replace him with one of his former defense attorneys, Lindsey Halligan, who has literally no prosecutorial experience but is clearly willing to blindly carry out the president’s orders. As if by magic, within mere days of being appointed, Ms. Halligan delivered for the president by filing the exact baseless charges against Mr. Comey that her predecessor had rejected.

“I have no doubt that a jury of his peers will acquit and vindicate Mr. Comey after being afforded the opportunity to hear all the relevant evidence. But, until that happens, Mr. Comey will be forced to spend time, money, and energy defending himself against this blatantly fraudulent and vindictive indictment.

“The rule of law was supposed to replace vendettas, blood feuds, and mad kings exacting vengeance on their perceived enemies. This sordid episode is one more savage assault on justice in America.”

###