Former FBI Director James Comey, in an look on “Good Morning America” on Monday, maintained his innocence after being indicted by the Trump Justice Division for a second time and bashed the administration’s plan to create a “anti-weaponization” fund for the president’s allies.
Comey informed ABC Information’ George Stephanopoulos he couldn’t focus on particulars of the case towards him, however stated: “I’m not simply not responsible, I’m harmless, and I’ve wonderful attorneys who’re additionally my associates, so we’ll do our very best in a courtroom. And I be ok with it.”
A federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted Comey last month over a controversial Instagram submit from 2025 shared an image exhibiting the numbers “86 47” written in seashells on the seaside with the caption, “Cool shell formation on my seaside stroll.”
Citing the slang which means of “86” as to “nix” or “get rid” of one thing, President Donald Trump and his allies allege that the submit was a veiled menace towards the forty seventh president. Comey has stated he was unaware that the submit could possibly be related to violence. His attorneys have indicated that they plan to file a movement accusing the Justice Division of selectively and vindictively prosecuting Comey.
Federal prosecutors introduced this case after a earlier indictment on unrelated costs was tossed by a choose final fall. That indictment got here simply days after Trump publicly demanded his Justice Division to behave “now” to deliver prosecutions towards Comey and different political foes.
James Comey speaks with “Good Morning America,” Might 18, 2026.
ABC Information
Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, is suing the Justice Division for illegal termination after she was fired final yr from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York.
Comey was requested by ABC’s Stephanopoulos what recourse he and his household can soak up response to the Trump administration’s concentrating on.
“We are able to avail ourselves of the final wholesome a part of the American authorities, which is the federal judiciary,” Comey stated. “So, my daughter is suing them to determine that you just can’t fireplace a profession individual with out trigger, and clearly I am defending myself, efficiently within the final case and I’ve this ongoing one in North Carolina about seashells.”
Comey, who appeared on “Good Morning America” to debate his new novel “Purple Verdict,” was additionally requested about an ABC News report that Trump plans to drop his $10 billion lawsuit towards the Inner Income Service in trade for the creation of a $1.776 billion fund to compensate allies who declare they have been wrongfully focused by the Biden administration.
“What do you make of that?” Stephanopoulos requested Comey.
“Yeah, if I put it in my subsequent novel, I am positive my editor would strike it out and say it is loopy,” Comey stated. “It simply cannot be the best way we function. We will not arrange a multi-million greenback ATM at Mar-a-Lago for individuals who’ve dedicated crimes. It simply is not the best way we’re. It isn’t according to our values. Finally, the Division of Justice will proper itself, however we’re gonna must experience out a tough two years.”
Later Monday, after Comey’s look on “Good Morning America,” attorneys representing Trump informed a federal judge in a court filing that the president is dropping the $10 billion lawsuit towards the IRS. Monday’s courtroom submitting makes no point out of the compensation fund or any settlement talks.
The Justice Division then introduced “as a part of the settlement settlement” within the IRS case, the lawyer basic established “The Anti-Weaponization Fund” to “present a scientific course of to listen to and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”
