President Donald Trump told reporters Friday the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey isn’t about revenge.
"It's about justice really, it's not revenge," Trump said while leaving the White House. "It's also about the fact that you can't let this go on. They are sick, radical left people, and they can't get away with it and Comey was one of the people."
"He wasn't the biggest, but he's a dirty cop," Trump continued. "He's always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it."
Comey was indicted by a grand jury on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. He faces two counts: false statements to the legislative branch and obstruction of Congress.
Trump argued Comey gave a strong but false answer under oath. "The only problem is for him he didn't think he'd be caught and he got caught," Trump said. He stressed that Comey could have said he didn’t recall but instead gave a precise response.
"It's about justice. He lied. He lied a lot," Trump said. "He gave a very specific answer and then he verified it numerous times and he got caught."
The case stems from Comey’s Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the Trump–Russia probe, known as "Crossfire Hurricane." Prosecutors allege he lied when he said he never authorized someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source.
Comey has denied the charges, calling them politically driven by the Trump Justice Department. "My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way," he said in an Instagram video. "We will not live on our knees and you shouldn't either."
"But I'm not afraid," Comey added.
His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee.