Speaker Johnson Pushes Back On CNN Host’s Claim That Trump Forced Comey Indictment
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) defended the recent indictment of James Comey during a heated exchange with CNN host Jake Tapper on Sunday’s “State of the Union,” pushing back on the claim that President Donald Trump pressured prosecutors into action.
Tapper pressed Johnson on whether it was appropriate for a president “to publicly or privately instruct their attorney general to prosecute a political opponent” and even fire U.S. attorneys if charges weren’t brought. Johnson quickly pushed back, pointing out that the Comey indictment wasn’t directed by Trump, but by a grand jury.
“As a constitutional attorney and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, do you believe it’s acceptable for any president to direct their attorney general to prosecute a political opponent?” Tapper asked.
Johnson responded: “I’m glad you brought up the principle, because that is exactly what’s at issue here. James Comey lied to Congress. He took an oath. He said things to Congress that were simply not true. It’s called perjury. A grand jury — a non-partisan, non-biased grand jury — reviewed the evidence, and they agreed. They voted to bring an indictment of James Comey. That’s how our system works. Not President Trump, not the DOJ, but a grand jury of his peers.”
Johnson emphasized that the process was not political retaliation but accountability under the law. “It’s a very important principle for us to apply that everybody has to follow the law — even a former FBI director. And he has a lot to answer for.”
The Speaker added that there were “many things” Comey could have been indicted for, but the statute of limitations had already run out on several charges.
CNN’s Jake Tapper: “As a constitutional attorney and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, do you believe it’s acceptable for any president to publicly or privately instruct their Attorney General to prosecute a political opponent and go as far as firing a US attorney if… pic.twitter.com/8fE3Fk04pi
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 28, 2025
Comey’s indictment was handed down Thursday, charging him with lying under oath during testimony before Congress in September 2020. The testimony involved his handling of the FBI’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The indictment came just days before the statute of limitations was set to expire on his 2020 testimony. Comey is now the first former senior federal official to face charges tied directly to the FBI’s handling of the Russia probe, which fueled years of investigations and allegations against Trump and his 2016 campaign.