Michael Cohen Claims James Comey Committed a Crime: Prison Awaits
Michael Cohen in 2019. Photo courtesy of The Circus under CC BY 3.0.
Michael Cohen, once Donald Trump's personal lawyer and fixer, left an MSNBC panel stunned with a bold claim: former FBI director James Comey "committed a crime" and will likely serve prison time, as reported by The Daily Beast. Cohen's confident assertion came during a recent appearance on "The Weekend: Primetime," where he drew on his own experience with the Department of Justice to frame Comey not as a powerful lawman but as a target of a weaponized justice system.
Cohen's Stark Prediction
Cohen's statement caught the panel off guard. He insisted that Comey's indictment on charges of obstructing a congressional investigation and making false statements was just the beginning. "I believe likely he will be found guilty," Cohen said, according to The Daily Beast, emphasizing that the DOJ possesses "hundreds of thousands of documents" and only needs to find "that one" piece of evidence to secure a conviction. His certainty was rooted in his own history with the DOJ, which he described as "insurmountable" and "weaponized," a system he knows well from his 2018 guilty plea on campaign finance violations and other charges.
Panelists on MSNBC, including Elise Jordan and Molly Jong-Fast, expressed surprise and skepticism. Jordan pressed Cohen on whether he himself had broken the law, to which Cohen acknowledged his campaign finance violation but framed it as a lesser offense compared to what he alleges Comey did during the Russia investigation. "I don't know what that crime is," Cohen said of Comey's alleged wrongdoing, "but there are hundreds of thousands of documents, and the government has each and every one of them," as reported by The Daily Beast.
From Hunter to Hunted
Cohen flipped the script on Comey's public image. Once seen as the hunter in the Russia probe, Comey is now portrayed by Cohen as the hunted. "James Comey was the head of the FBI. He was so used to punching down. Well now, we have the FBI that's going to be punching up," Cohen said, according to The Daily Beast, suggesting a reversal of roles where Comey faces the full force of the DOJ's power.
Trump's Reaction and the Political Context
President Donald Trump echoed Cohen's sentiments publicly, praising the indictment and predicting more charges against his political adversaries. Trump called Comey "a dirty cop" and accused him and other "radical left Democrats" of weaponizing the Justice Department, as reported by POLITICO. "He lied," Trump said of Comey's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, adding that Comey's false statements were a gamble that ultimately failed.
Trump denied pushing the DOJ for revenge, framing the investigations as a pursuit of justice. "It's about justice, not revenge," he told reporters while warning that the government cannot allow such alleged misconduct to continue unchecked, as reported by POLITICO. His comments came amid growing speculation about a broader crackdown on political opponents as his second term unfolds.
The Indictment and Legal Proceedings
Comey was indicted on two counts: making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges stem from his 2020 testimony about the FBI's handling of the Russia investigation, known internally as "Crossfire Hurricane."
Comey has denied the charges and declared he is not afraid. He is reportedly scheduled to turn himself in and face arraignment on Oct. 9 in Alexandria Courtroom 600 before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. The investigation and legal process are ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Cohen's Insider Perspective
Cohen's comments carry weight because of his insider status and his own legal troubles. He pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress, later cooperating with investigations into Trump. His experience with the DOJ's prosecutorial power informs his view of Comey's predicament.
"I've been through this system. I know better than anybody what a weaponized DOJ looks like and feels like. It is insurmountable," Cohen said, as reported by Fox news, underscoring the department's reach and influence.
His framing suggests that Comey's legal challenges are not just about the facts of the case but also about the political and institutional forces at play. Cohen's prediction that Comey will be found guilty rests on the assumption that the DOJ's vast trove of documents will reveal incriminating evidence.
The Spectacle Widens
If Cohen is right, the man who helped ignite Trump's first-term legal storms could be staring down a conviction of his own. If he's wrong, it won't be the first time Cohen misread the justice system — or its politics.
Either way, Comey's indictment has already flipped the script. Trump is calling it justice. Cohen says prison is next. And the FBI's former top man is now walking into court as the hunted, not the hunter.
The only thing more explosive than the charges? What might be buried in those "hundreds of thousands of documents" the DOJ is holding — and who else they might expose.
References: Trump's Ex-Fixer Michael Cohen: Comey 'Committed a Crime' | Michael Cohen stuns MSNBC panel by claiming James Comey 'likely committed crime' | Cheering Comey indictment, Trump predicts 'there will be others'
