Trump applauds James Comey indictment: 'It's about justice, not revenge'
President Donald Trump stood by his Justice Department and slammed James Comey Friday, just hours after the former FBI director was indicted on charges of making a false statement and obstruction related to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020.
"It's about justice. He lied, he lied a lot," Trump told reporters outside the White House Friday morning.
Asked if the indictment was about justice or revenge, Trump said, "It's about justice, not revenge. It's about justice. Also, it's also about the fact that you can't let this go on."
Comey said in a video statement Thursday night that he did nothing illegal and he was looking forward to a trial.
The president claimed that there could be "others" who face similar legal action, but didn't mention any names.
"Frankly, I hope there are others, because you can't let this happen to a country," Trump said.
Comey's indictment came just days after Trump issued a public demand for his Justice Department to act "now" to bring prosecutions against Comey and other political foes.
In the first on-camera interview by a top Justice Department official following Comey's indictment, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday stood by the Justice Department's decision to pursue the case despite criticism that it's a result of direct pressure from Trump.
"Look, a grand jury heard evidence over the results of an investigation that lasted a very long time, and the evidence that they considered resulted in an indictment," Blanche said in an interview with Fox News on Friday. "So ... while people can talk about what they view, what they think happened, what they think Mr. Comey knew or did -- he stands accused. He was indicted by a grand jury, and I assure you that the FBI didn't just make up this charge, that there was a thorough investigation, and that the result of that investigation was the indictment that was handed down yesterday."
Blanche was pressed in the interview over the increasing statements by Trump in recent weeks ramping up pressure on the Justice Department to move forward in carrying out prosecutions of his political foes.
Addressing the post that Trump posted last weekend urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to act "now" to charge Comey as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff, Blanche denied that he or others in Justice Department felt pressured.
"I don't take that as pressure," Blanche said. "When the president says that he's reading things or that he wants us to do investigations and he wants us to do our job -- the attorney general does not take that as pressure. I don't take that as pressure. I take that as a president who is working every day for the American people and every day to make sure that we're doing our jobs."
Trump told reporters on Friday that Democrats "weaponized the Justice Department like nobody in history," claiming they went after him unjustly.
In social media posts earlier Friday morning, the president called Comey "one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to," as he celebrated his indictment.
Trump proclaimed "JUSTICE IN AMERICA" and decried Comey as a "DIRTY COP" in the posts.
The president also criticized the judge randomly assigned to the case, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, as a "Crooked Joe Biden" appointee on social media on Friday. Nachmanoff was nominated to the court by Biden and confirmed in 2021.
Trump, who was indicted twice during President Joe Biden's term, and members of his administration have decried the "weaponization" of the DOJ and vowed to end what they viewed as politically motivated prosecutions. The charges against Trump, related to election interference and mishandling of classified documents, were subsequently dropped because of Justice Department policy barring prosecuting a sitting president.
"No one is above the law," Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted to social media following the indictment. "Today's indictment reflects this Department of Justice's commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case."
Comey's lawyer fully denied the charges in a statement obtained by ABC News.
"Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald as counsel for Comey.
Comey has been outspoken about Trump's efforts to politicize the justice system.
That argument is now likely to be central to Comey's defense in his criminal case, which could prove to be a highly consequential test for both the Justice Department and the federal judiciary.
Comey has been summoned to appear for arraignment on Oct. 9.
