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A new report has revealed that the White House, working together with Qatari officials, crafted the wording of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s apology to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani following Israel’s accidental strike in Qatar on September 9.

According to Politico, “a powerful Qatari interlocutor and close ally of the country’s prime minister” was present in the Oval Office alongside President Donald Trump and Netanyahu to ensure that the Israeli leader delivered the apology exactly as written. The publication cited three individuals familiar with the details of the exchange.

The strike in question reportedly aimed to hit Hamas’s political leadership but did not achieve its intended objective.

The phone call containing the apology was placed directly from the Oval Office, with President Trump orchestrating and attending the conversation while meeting with Netanyahu. Soon after the call concluded, the White House unveiled its comprehensive plan for ending the Gaza conflict. During a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Trump announced that both Israel and the Arab world had agreed to the proposal.

In response to the report, Netanyahu’s office rejected the claims outright, calling them “fake news.”

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks in his conversation with the Qatari prime minister were determined by the prime minister himself, in consultation only with his professional team,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The office further clarified that “as for the Qatari official — he was present only during the call at the invitation of the American team, and there was no contact whatsoever with the Israeli team.”

Reports indicate that Qatar made Israel’s apology a precondition for resuming its role as mediator in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

According to an official White House readout, Netanyahu “expressed his deep regret that Israel’s missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman.”

The statement continued, noting that the Israeli leader “further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.”

Qatar’s government issued its own statement soon after, confirming the call and saying that Prime Minister al-Thani “expressed Qatar’s refusal to tolerate violations of its sovereignty” while reiterating his country’s readiness to keep participating in diplomatic efforts “to end the war in the Gaza Strip under the framework of the US president’s initiative.”

The apology represented a significant reversal for Netanyahu, who had previously maintained that Israel was within its legal and moral rights to strike Hamas targets, even those based in Qatar.

It was not the first time Netanyahu has issued such a statement. He previously apologized to Turkey “for any errors that could have led to loss of life” following the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident and to Jordan after a botched 1997 attempt to assassinate Hamas operative Khaled Mashaal in Amman.

Meanwhile, diplomatic talks are taking place in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh over Trump’s proposed framework to end the war and secure the release of the 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza. The plan requires Hamas to surrender its weapons and relinquish authority over the territory to an international security force while Israel withdraws its troops.

{Matzav.com}

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that his Religious Zionism party will vote against the Gaza ceasefire deal, which includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza. Smotrich expressed “mixed emotions,” saying that while he feels “immense joy” at the pending return of the hostages, he also feels “tremendous fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders, who will do everything to continue spilling rivers of Jewish blood, God forbid.” “As such,” he said, “we cannot join in the short-sighted celebrations or vote in favor of the deal.” The security cabinet is scheduled to meet this afternoon to be briefed on the Gaza ceasefire deal, followed by a full government meeting to vote on the agreement. A substantial majority in favor of the deal is expected. Smotrich argued that Israel must continue the war after the hostages are freed. “It is a huge responsibility to ensure that this is not, God forbid, a deal of ‘hostages in exchange for stopping the war,’ as Hamas thinks and brags about,” Smotrich declared, insisting that immediately after the return of the hostages, Israel should “continue to strive with all its might for the real eradication of Hamas and the real demilitarization of Gaza so that it no longer poses a threat to Israel.” He also warned against any political process leading toward Palestinian statehood or the deployment of an international force in Gaza — both elements included in the U.S. 20-point plan for the enclave. “It is a huge obligation to ensure that we do not return to the Oslo path, God forbid, and that we do not abandon our security to the hands of foreigners,” he said, noting that his opposition to previous deals “led to progress in the occupation of Gaza and the application of military pressure that brought Hamas to its knees.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Israeli cabinet will convene at 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to vote on the proposed agreement aimed at securing the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza, according to an official government statement. The agenda posted on the government website reads simply: “Plan for the release of all Israeli hostages.” An earlier meeting of the Security Cabinet has been scheduled for one hour prior to the full cabinet session, during which senior defense and intelligence officials will present the latest updates and recommendations before the vote. According to an Israeli source quoted by Reuters, the deal envisions the release of all 20 living hostages as soon as Sunday or Monday, though the exact timing remains uncertain. Reports indicate that under the terms of the agreement being finalized between Israel and Hamas, the hostages will be freed within 72 hours of the deal taking effect — a process expected to begin following cabinet approval. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed. The arraignment lasted less than half an hour, but it was nonetheless loaded with historical significance given that the case has amplified concerns the Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies and is operating at the behest of an administration determined to seek retribution. Comey’s not guilty plea to allegations that he lied to Congress five years ago kick-starts a process of legal wrangling that could culminate in a trial months from now at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of Washington. Defense lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on grounds that it constitutes a vindictive prosecution and also plan to challenge the legitimacy of the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the charges just days after Trump hastily appointed her to her position. “It’s the honor of my life to represent Mr. Comey in this matter,” one of Comey’s lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald, a longtime friend who served with him in President George W. Bush’s Justice Department, said in court on Wednesday. The indictment two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw the Trump administration effectively force out the prosecutor who had been overseeing the Comey investigation and replace him with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who previously served as one of the president’s former lawyers but had never served as a federal prosecutor. The president also publicly implored Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries. Less than a week after being appointed, Halligan rushed to file charges before a legal deadline lapsed despite warnings from other lawyers in the office that the evidence was insufficient for an indictment. She sat at the prosecution table Wednesday. In a sign of the unusual nature of the case, the two prosecutors who have signed on to handle it are both based in North Carolina as opposed to the elite Eastern District of Virginia, which Halligan now leads. What the indictment says The two-count indictment alleges that Comey misled the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020, when he was asked whether he had authorized any associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media related to investigations of either Trump or 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Comey replied that he stood by earlier testimony that he had not given such authorization. The two-count indictment charging him with making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding does not identify the associate or say what information may have been discussed with the media, making it challenging to assess the strength of the evidence or to even fully parse the allegations. Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he’s looking forward to a trial, which the judge set for Jan. 5, though that date will be subject to change. Though an indictment is typically just the start of a protracted court process, the Justice Department has trumpeted the development itself as something of a win, regardless of the outcome. […]

A report in the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed claims that Israel has agreed to release several of the most notorious terrorists held in its prisons — including senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine chief Ahmad Sa’adat, and Hamas commanders Ibrahim Hamed and Hassan Salameh — as part of a deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. All four are serving multiple life sentences for orchestrating deadly terror attacks that claimed dozens of Israeli lives, primarily during the Second Intifada. The report further alleges that Israel has agreed to free around 250 senior terror convicts as part of the deal. However, Israeli media say there is significant uncertainty regarding the exact list of prisoners being discussed — and whether any of these arch-terrorists will actually be released. Barghouti, in particular, is viewed as a potential political rival to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, raising additional concern in Jerusalem over the implications of his possible release. Channel 12 News in Israel, however, reported Sunday that both Barghouti and Hamed will  not be released, contradicting the Qatari report. Israeli officials have not yet issued an official comment on the matter. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sparked outrage after posting an image of an Israeli hostage who appears severely malnourished, as part of a social media campaign accusing Israel of abusing Palestinian prisoners.

The post, created in partnership with several pro-Palestinian campaigners, featured a series of graphics displaying statistics and images of Palestinians in Israeli custody, claiming to highlight “the suffering” of those detained.

“The suffering of Palestinian prisoners is not a matter of opinion — it is a fact of cruelty and dehumanization. Humanity cannot be selective. Justice cannot have borders,” read the message attached to the post.

Among the visuals, however, was a photo of Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage held by Hamas, appearing gaunt and weak inside a tunnel used by the terror group. The image was taken from a Hamas propaganda video released months earlier, in which David, visibly skeletal, described the horrific conditions of his captivity.

Thunberg, who has become one of the most outspoken pro-Palestinian activists on the international stage, had been deported just a day before the post for joining a flotilla that attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The inclusion of a Hamas hostage’s photo in a post condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians was quickly met with widespread mockery and backlash online.

The post also drew an angry reaction from David’s sister, Yeela David, who wrote in the comments: “You need to do research before you post things you don’t understand.”

“On the sixth slide, you included a photo of an ISRAELI HOSTAGE that Hamas deliberately starved! That is Evyatar David,” she stated.

“Every minute you are not deleting this post you are becoming a bigger joke,” she added in another comment. “Embarrassing.”

Evyatar David was abducted from the Nova music festival near Re’im during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre and has remained in captivity ever since.

He has appeared in two Hamas propaganda videos, the first filmed during a hostage release ceremony earlier this year, in which he and fellow hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal were seen forced to watch as other captives were freed — a display widely condemned as a deliberate act of psychological torment.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Israeli Navy on Wednesday intercepted yet another flotilla attempting to breach the maritime blockade on Gaza, stopping a convoy of boats carrying roughly 150 pro-Palestinian activists who were subsequently taken to Israel for deportation.

This latest operation occurred just one week after Israeli forces halted the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest such mission to date, which consisted of 42 vessels and nearly 500 participants. The majority of those activists — including Swedish climate figure Greta Thunberg — have already been deported.

According to a statement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the flotilla was prevented from reaching the Gaza coast, and both its vessels and passengers were redirected to Ashdod Port. “Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” the ministry wrote on X. “The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.”

Officials said the interception followed the organizers’ refusal to comply with offers to deliver their symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid through Israel or international relief groups instead of directly by sea.

The flotilla — organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) — consisted of nine boats, including one larger ship named Conscience, which carried about 100 activists. The other eight smaller vessels were transporting approximately 50 more participants. The group had set sail from Italy two weeks earlier, claiming to be on a mission of solidarity with Gaza.

Among the activists on board were at least two Israeli citizens, according to the organizers.

The interception took place before dawn, about 150 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast in the Mediterranean Sea. Within 40 minutes, commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 naval unit and additional Navy forces had seized control of all nine boats, including the 68-meter passenger ship Conscience.

Due to the size of the Conscience, Israeli commandos descended onto its deck from an Air Force helicopter, while the remaining vessels were boarded directly from Navy ships.

Shortly after the operation began, the flotilla’s organizers released a statement claiming, “Our vessel is currently being attacked by an Israeli military helicopter while the eight sailboats are being illegally intercepted and hijacked.”

The FFC also asserted that “participants — humanitarians, doctors and journalists from across the world — have been taken against their will and are being held in unknown conditions.”

“The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” the group continued. “Our flotilla poses no harm.”

The FFC claimed the flotilla carried over $110,000 worth of supplies — including medicine, respiratory devices, and nutritional products — intended for Gaza’s medical facilities.

Videos posted by the activists showed Israeli Navy personnel boarding the flotilla vessels.

All nine boats, along with the 150 activists aboard, were escorted to Ashdod Port, where Israeli police and immigration officials began processing the detainees for deportation.

Later in the day, the FFC posted photographs of the detained activists and urged their supporters to pressure their respective governments to demand their release.

The organization also released an image identifying two Israelis said to have been aboard the Conscience — Zohar Chamberlain Regev and Omer Sharir. However, the post stopped short of calling for their release, stating only: “Israeli passport holders will likely be processed differently by authorities and may not require embassy assistance if processed under Israeli law.”

Israel has repeatedly thwarted similar flotilla efforts over the past few months, including in June and July, as activists sought to challenge its blockade amid global criticism over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Israeli officials have dismissed the missions as public-relations spectacles orchestrated in support of Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

A month after the horrific terror attack at the Ramot Junction that claimed the life of Rabbi Yisrael HaKohen Metzner Hy”d, his Almanah has given birth to a baby boy — a moment of joy intertwined with deep sorrow for the grieving family. The newborn joins his three older brothers, though he will never have the chance to meet his father. Rabbi Metzner, a respected Avreich in the Maysharim Kollel, was murdered on his way to Kollel during the Elul terror attack at the Ramot Junction. Rabbi Metzner Hy”d was among the prominent scholars in his kollel and the son-in-law of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Greineman, Rosh Kollel Taharos in Jerusalem. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo says he wants to save Rikers Island, the notorious jail complex that has become a symbol of dysfunction in the city’s criminal justice system. The city is legally required to shutter its jails on Rikers and replace them with four smaller, more modern jails by 2027 under a plan approved by the City Council six years ago. Officials at the time wanted Rikers gone for several reasons: It is crumbling, costly, plagued by violence and far from the courthouses where its inmates need to be transported regularly. But the replacement project has stalled, swelled in cost and faces local opposition. Only one of the four new jails, in Brooklyn, is under construction. Cuomo, the former New York governor who is running for mayor as an independent, said Wednesday that he would scrap the plan to replace Rikers and would rebuild it instead. “We can and must do both things at once: Close Rikers as we know it, and rebuild it the right way,” Cuomo said. Cuomo said he would rebuild the jails at Rikers one at a time so operations can continue. He said the land where the replacement neighborhood jails were going to be built would be turned into affordable housing or mixed-use developments. “The deadlines have already slipped years past, costs have doubled, and neighborhoods are being forced to shoulder the burden of government at its worst. Now is the time to admit the mistake before we dig any deeper,” he said. The Democratic Party’s mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, told reporters Wednesday that abandoning the plan to close Rikers would be a bad idea. “Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to take that which is broken, that which is morally bankrupt, that which is a stain on our city and to keep it open, it’s a betrayal not only of the law as it stands today, but also of what New Yorkers actually want,” Mamdani said. Built on an island in the East River, Rikers Island has been featured on television’s “Law & Order” and other crime shows and has housed high-profile inmates, including Harvey Weinstein. The facility had come under intense scrutiny over inmate deaths and allegations of neglect, leading to heavy federal oversight. The incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, has also questioned whether closing Rikers is the solution to its problems and urged the City Council to find an alternative as it became increasingly likely that the city would miss its deadline. Adams is not running for reelection. The Republican nominee for mayor, Curtis Sliwa, has said he would not allow Rikers Island to close and has called for its jails to be renovated. In a statement Wednesday, Jonathan Lippman, a former chief state judge who chairs a commission that studies Rikers, said the jail “must be closed as soon as humanly possible.” He added that more than 70 people held at Rikers have died since the start of 2020 and that the city spends more than $2.8 billion annually to operate the facility. “Rebuilding on Rikers is highly problematic, fiscally flawed, and at variance with the law and the present advanced state of contracting, moneys invested, and preparatory work already undertaken to build four new more humane local jails in the city,” Lippman said. (AP)

President Donald Trump details negotiations in the Israel-Hamas peace deal in an exclusive interview on ‘Hannity.’

WATCH:

Denise Cohen, a New York resident, joined ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss her reaction to Mamdani’s statement, why some members of the Jewish community still support his candidacy and more.

WATCH:

New York Post columnist Douglas Murray discusses the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack and the state of peace talks between Israel and Hamas on ‘America’s Newsroom.’

WATCH:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers a note about the Middle East peace talks to President Trump.

WATCH:

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks about the impact of the government shutdown on ‘Hannity.’

WATCH:

In an interview with “Hannity” on Fox News tonight, President Donald Trump recounted his recent phone conversation with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that took place after he announced the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza.

“I spoke to Bibi Netanyahu just a little while ago,” Trump said. “He called. He said, ‘I can’t believe it. Everybody is liking me now,’ meaning him. I said, ‘More importantly, they are loving Israel again,’ and they really are. I said, ‘Israel cannot fight the world Bibi, they cannot fight the world.’ And he understands that very well. So it’s amazing the way it’s all come together.”

Trump went on to describe the broader circumstances that led to the breakthrough. “It was just a set of circumstances, like, for instance, taking out the nuclear potential, nuclear power of Iran. So many different things happened that were so amazing. It’s a lot of talent involved, I’ll tell you. But there was a certain degree of luck too. You know, you need luck also. There is such a thing as luck.”

He credited key members of his administration for their “tremendous help” in finalizing the deal. “With everybody from Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Marco [Rubio], and we had everybody. JD [Vance], the whole, the whole group was just amazing. And the military was, as you know, very instrumental in getting this done. We have a great military with great leadership.”

“The whole world came together, to be honest, so many countries that you wouldn’t have even thought of it, and they came together. The world has come together around this deal, and that’s something I would say that without that wouldn’t happen,” he added. “So many countries that you wouldn’t have thought of have wired their best wishes and their commitment to do whatever is necessary. The countries surrounding have all signed, I mean, they’re all signed up, and it’s been, it’s been really an amazing period of time.”

Trump concluded by saying, “this is more than Gaza. This is peace in the Middle East, an incredible thing.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had directed troops overnight “to be ready for any scenario,” as the military prepared for the return of hostages and a limited withdrawal of forces from the Gaza Strip under the terms of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas.

According to an official statement from the IDF, soldiers would carry out operations “in accordance with the orders of the political echelon and the stages of the deal, and with responsibility while safeguarding our soldiers.”

The army also emphasized that “it will continue to act to realize the goals of the war and to safeguard citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump told Fox News’ “Hannity” tonight that the hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza were expected to be released on Monday, following his earlier announcement of a breakthrough agreement between Israel and Hamas marking the first stage of a ceasefire.

“They [the hostages] are in a terrible situation there. They are deep, deep in the earth,” Trump said, describing the tunnels beneath Gaza where Hamas had been keeping the captives. “As we speak, so much is happening to get the hostages freed.”

“We think they will all be coming back on Monday… and that will include the bodies of the dead,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania extended his congratulations to President Donald Trump for brokering what he called a “historic peace plan” between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing that despite political differences, both he and Trump shared a firm dedication to the Jewish state.

“I congratulate @POTUS on this historic peace plan that releases all the hostages,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X. “Now, enduring peace in the region is possible. Our parties are different but we have a shared ironclad commitment to Israel and its people.”

Fetterman’s comments came shortly after President Trump announced on Truth Social that Israel and Hamas had “both signed off on the first Phase” of his peace initiative.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote. “All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.”

Trump’s announcement followed his earlier statement on Saturday that Israel had “agreed to a proposed withdrawal line” and that once Hamas accepted the terms, a ceasefire would “be IMMEDIATELY effective.”

“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas,” Trump said at the time. “When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE.”

Just a day earlier, Trump had issued an ultimatum to Hamas, giving the group 48 hours to respond to the proposed terms of his peace plan.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign is set to remove roughly 600,000 illegal migrants within its first year, according to new government figures reported by the New York Post.

The broader consequences of the crackdown are even more dramatic — with over 2 million illegal migrants leaving the United States since January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed.

Officials said federal immigration teams have already taken more than 457,000 illegal immigrants into custody, calling the arrests “just the beginning” of a far-reaching enforcement surge.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin credited the president and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for revitalizing a department long constrained by political opposition. “Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ‘jumpstarted an agency that was vilified and barred from doings its job for the last four years,’” she said.

According to McLaughlin, federal agents have made “historic progress to carryout President Trump’s promise of arresting and deporting illegal aliens who have invaded our country,” despite multiple rulings from federal courts attempting to curtail enforcement efforts.

Since the start of Trump’s second term, DHS has deported over 493,000 illegal immigrants, while another 1.6 million have chosen to “self-deport.”

“Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now or face the consequence. Migrants are now even turning back before they reach our borders,” McLaughlin said.

The current numbers mark a dramatic jump compared to just 271,000 deportations during the final year of the Biden administration, and 142,000 in 2023, according to ICE data.

In September, the agency announced it had gone four straight months without releasing any illegal border crossers into the country, declaring that “the era of open borders is over.”

The escalation of arrests and deportations in sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland has created dangerous conditions for agents on the ground, who face threats from both organized criminal networks and violent mobs intent on stopping their operations.

Assaults on ICE personnel have skyrocketed by 1,000% in 2025, with three separate ambushes in Texas in the past three months alone. In one recent attack, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn opened fire outside an immigration facility in Dallas, missing his intended ICE targets but killing two migrants awaiting deportation.

This week in Chicago, chaos erupted outside an ICE building in Broadview, Illinois, where rioters clashed with officers. Later, another group of agents was trapped and assaulted on Chicago’s South Side when attackers used vehicles to block their escape.

ICE sources said Chicago police ignored their calls for help under a “stand down” order allegedly issued by the chief of patrol — an accusation the department has denied.

{Matzav.com}

Appearing calm and composed, former FBI Director James Comey entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday to federal charges accusing him of lying to Congress and obstructing justice — marking the first time in U.S. history that a onetime FBI chief has faced criminal prosecution.

Comey, 64, also denied allegations that he obstructed justice during the investigation into alleged ties between President Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian officials. His trial date has been scheduled for January 5, 2026.

Wearing a navy suit and maintaining a stoic expression, Comey faced U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff for roughly 30 minutes at the Albert V. Bryan Courthouse in Virginia. His attorney, former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago, formally entered the plea on his behalf.

When Judge Nachmanoff asked if he understood the charges against him, Comey replied quietly, “I do, your honor.”

“My client is anxious to get to a speedy trial,” Fitzgerald told the court.

Both the defense and federal prosecutor Nathaniel “Tyler” Lemons requested a modest delay in scheduling, with Lemons explaining that his team was still sorting through “a large” volume of evidence and “just getting our hands around the discovery as well.”

Judge Nachmanoff — appointed by President Joe Biden — agreed to a brief extension but questioned the justification. He commented that the matter appeared to involve “a discrete set of facts” and was “not overly complicated.”

Lemons responded that the case involved “a significant amount of classified information,” while Fitzgerald’s team acknowledged that only one of their lawyers, Jessica Carmichael, currently holds the necessary clearance to review classified material.

The judge assured both sides that he intended to move quickly, saying he would “go through the fastest [classified document review] process you’ve seen in your lives.”

Fitzgerald said he “hoped that a trial can be avoided,” and indicated he would soon file motions arguing that the case constitutes “vindictive prosecution” and that the appointment of the lead prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, was unlawful.

Comey was released on his own recognizance after prosecutors declined to request bail. His family, including daughter Maurene — who was dismissed from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office in July — attended the hearing. Her husband, Troy Edwards, also appeared, having resigned from his post in the Eastern District of Virginia shortly after the indictment was announced.

According to the two-page indictment returned by a grand jury last month, Comey is accused of lying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 30, 2020, when he denied approving media leaks about the Trump-Russia investigation and a separate probe involving Hillary Clinton.

If convicted, Comey faces a maximum of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. The grand jury declined to pursue an additional count of making false statements.

The case represents the first time the Justice Department has brought charges against one of President Trump’s political adversaries. The DOJ is also reportedly investigating other prominent Trump critics, including Rep. Adam Schiff of California and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

The prosecution was initiated by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s onetime personal attorney, who was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia last month after Trump removed her predecessor, Erik Siebert, over his reluctance to pursue cases against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Halligan, who previously specialized in insurance law, had no prior experience as a federal prosecutor. The indictment was filed just days before the five-year statute of limitations would have expired on Comey’s testimony before Congress.

Comey has publicly admitted in the past to authorizing leaks, including his 2017 admission to the Senate Intelligence Committee that he had instructed his “good friend,” Columbia Law Professor Daniel Richman, to leak memos detailing Trump’s alleged request to drop the Michael Flynn investigation.

The indictment refers to a “PERSON 3” — widely believed to be Richman — whom Comey allegedly “had authorized … to serve as an anonymous source in news reports” related to the FBI’s Russia probe.

Trump dismissed Comey as FBI director in 2017 during the height of the Russia inquiry, prompting the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who ultimately found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy.

Following the indictment, Comey released a video statement expressing both defiance and sadness. “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. “We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”

“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith,” Comey added.

{Matzav.com}