FBI Director Kash Patel says the Trump administration is continuing to pursue former FBI Director James Comey, even after a federal judge dismissed the criminal case against him.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump fired Comey in 2017, and the former FBI director has remained a central focus for the president and many of his supporters.
In a September post on Truth Social, Trump urged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “act fast” in prosecuting Comey and other political opponents, claiming they are “guilty as hell” and insisting that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED NOW!!!”
Comey was later charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress, based on his appearances before lawmakers overseeing the FBI’s handling of politically sensitive investigations and its role in the 2016 Russia inquiry.
He pleaded not guilty and continues to insist he has done nothing wrong.
What to Know
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie determined that Lindsey Halligan had been appointed interim U.S. Attorney just two days before Comey’s case, with no prior prosecutorial experience. The judge ruled that her appointment was improper, making her actions — including signing Comey’s indictment — legally invalid and leading to the case’s dismissal.
Patel discussed the decision in a wide-ranging interview with Epoch Times senior editor Jan Jekielek, in which he also talked about efforts to change the culture at the FBI, the Trump administration’s deal with China to curb the fentanyl trade, and counterespionage operations.
When Jekielek asked about the dismissal of Comey’s case, Patel used the opportunity to signal that the administration is considering further steps even as the appeals process continues.
“The judicial process can make whatever determination it wants, but we at the FBI and our partners at the DOJ have numerous options to proceed, and we’re executing on all those options,” Patel said in the interview, which was posted on X. “So we’re not done.”
What People Are Saying
Comey, in a video statement after the charges were dismissed:
“I am grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence and a reflection of what the Justice Department has become under Donald Trump, which is heartbreaking.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, responding to the dismissal:
“We’ll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal to hold Letitia James and James Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct,” she said, adding, “I’m not worried about someone who has been charged with a very serious crime. His [Comey’s] alleged actions are a betrayal of public trust.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked whether the president is “going after” Comey:
” I wouldn’t say he’s ‘going after’ them. I think the president is more determined than ever to see accountability in this country. And to correct the wrongs of the weaponization of our justice system that we saw under the previous administration and Joe Biden.”
What Happens Next
Patel said he could not provide extensive detail because of the ongoing appeals process, but hinted that further developments are imminent, urging people to “stay tuned for right after Thanksgiving, and you’ll see multiple responses, in my opinion.”
