James Comey, the former FBI Director, addressed criminal charges against him related to making false statements and obstruction of justice with a message of innocence and resolve. In a video posted on Instagram after his indictment, Comey said his heart is broken for the Department of Justice but expressed great confidence in the federal judicial system, asserting that he is innocent and ready to have a trial. He emphasized that he and his family have long known the costs of standing up to President Donald Trump but would not live any other way, expressing defiance against fear as a tool of tyranny and encouraging engagement and voting as if the country depended on it. Comey's charges relate to his 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he denied authorizing leaks of information about the FBI's investigations tied to the 2016 presidential election, a claim prosecutors now challenge. President Trump celebrated the indictment, aligning it with his campaign to prosecute political opponents, while Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed the charges demonstrate a commitment to holding powerful figures accountable.