James Comey Indicted On Charges Stemming From 2020 Congressional Testimony

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from his testimony before Congress in 2020. President Trump promised retribution against his perceived enemies and demanded that prosecutors at the Justice Department speed up the investigation targeting some of his most prominent critics. What is Comey accused of and what does the indictment signify for the rule of law?

This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for NPR and the following message comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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0:12.1	Learn more at RWJF.org.
0:16.9	My name is Daniel, and I'm covered in glue and newspaper scraps making a giant paper
0:22.6	mashay mushroom for the 40th annual Mushroom Festival Parade.
0:26.6	Our famous festival brings all the fun guys and gals to town.
0:31.6	The time is...
0:32.6	I wonder what town?
0:34.6	12.13 p.m. Eastern on Friday, September 26th.
0:37.9	Things may have changed before you listen to this podcast, but Kennett Square will still be the mushroom capital of the world.
0:48.5	Kenneth Square, where?
0:50.7	I don't know, but either way, I am delighted.
0:52.9	I like one. I want to see that mushroom.
0:54.9	I know.
0:55.5	Send us a photo of the final paper machine product because I got to see this.
0:59.9	All right, it is the NPR Politics Podcast.
1:02.0	I'm Danielle Kurtzleben. I cover the White House.
1:04.2	I'm Carrie Johnson. I cover the Justice Department.
1:06.4	And I'm Mara Liason, senior national political correspondent.
1:10.2	Yesterday, the Justice Department indicted former FBI director James Comey. President Trump has long sought retribution against his perceived political enemies, and Comey is one of them. Today on the show, is the Justice Department making good on that promise. Now, there's a lot to get at here. This is a long brewing story, so we're going to walk through it. Carrie, what exactly does the indictment say
1:32.0	Comey did wrong? Jim Comey is charged with two crimes. One is making a false statement, and the second
1:39.0	is obstructing a congressional proceeding. And both of these charges seem to stem from Senate judiciary testimony
	...

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