Comey Indictment Decision: Statute of Limitations Expires Amidst Trump Pressure

Washington — Federal prosecutors were weighing a critical decision earlier this week regarding potential charges against former FBI Director James Comey, as the five-year statute of limitations for alleged perjury before Congress expired on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that prosecutors were nearing a decision on whether to seek an indictment against the longtime adversary of President Donald Trump, potentially presenting a case to a grand jury before the crucial deadline.

The intense scrutiny surrounding the decision followed a period of escalating pressure from President Trump. Just days before Tuesday’s deadline, Mr. Trump had taken to Truth Social, seemingly urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Comey and others, stating they were “guilty as hell” and that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED.” This public directive coincided with notable shifts within the Justice Department; Mr. Trump confirmed on Saturday the firing of Erik Siebert, the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, whose resignation was announced amidst concerns he might be removed for refusing to charge other Trump political foes. By Monday, Mr. Trump’s former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, was sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for the district.

The potential charges reportedly stemmed from Comey’s 2020 testimony concerning the origins of the FBI’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Any indictment would mark a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to target perceived adversaries.

The handling of the Comey inquiry has raised significant concerns among legal experts. Tom Dupree, a former Justice Department official from the George W. Bush era, highlighted the “significant presidential pressure brought to bear,” warning against prosecutorial judgments being distorted by political influence rather than evidence. The ongoing saga underscores the deep-seated animosity between Comey and Mr. Trump, rooted in Comey’s oversight of the Russia probe and Hillary Clinton’s email investigation during the 2016 election cycle, and Comey’s subsequent firing in 2017. Since his return to office, Mr. Trump has consistently railed against agencies involved in the Russia probe, intensifying scrutiny on former FBI officials.

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