Gregg Jarrett told ‘Hannity’ viewers that James Comey’s recent behavior looks like a deliberate attempt to evade accountability. He framed Comey’s public displays as a political counterattack designed to make the conversation about President Trump, not the criminal allegations facing Comey. Jarrett said this is a classic play from a defendant who prefers spectacle to scrutiny.
The Department of Justice announced an indictment in September charging Comey with one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstructing a congressional investigation. Prosecutors point to a statement in which Comey said he “did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source,” and the indictment alleges that representation was false. That move turned a long-running controversy into a formal criminal matter and set a courtroom timeline that many watchers did not expect.
Jarrett told guest host Charlie Hurt that the public performance matters to Comey’s legal posture and to the story he wants told. “Comey’s strategy, make no mistake, is to put Donald Trump on trial to avoid his own trial.” “Which is why his lawyers this week said we’re gonna file motions to dismiss the case, claiming in a vindictive prosecution, selective prosecution, retribution by Trump.”
Jarrett warned that those are familiar defense playbooks used when reputations and careers are on the line, and he argued judges rarely accept selective prosecution claims without clear proof. The analyst noted the legal standard requires showing unjustified motive by clear evidence, which is a high bar in practice. That, Jarrett suggested, is why Comey prefers noise to a narrow evidentiary fight.
On Fox Jarrett went even further, calling Comey’s past behavior a catalogue of missteps and suggesting the current theatrics are meant to create sympathy rather than accountability. He described how public posturing can sway media narratives even as lawyers move to blunt a trial with procedural motions. Jarrett also said he was writing a column expanding on those points and believes the record will matter more than rhetoric.
Comey fired back with a short Instagram clip after prosecutors filed charges, saying he and his family have known “for years” the “costs” of “standing up to” Trump but couldn’t “imagine living any other way.” Comey added that they would not “live on our knees,” and urged viewers to stay “engaged” and pay attention as he anticipated the trial. The clip was pointed and personal, aimed at rallying supporters as his legal team shifts into defense mode.
Legal experts say motions to dismiss are common in headline cases because they can narrow issues or knock claims out before a jury sees them, and Jarrett said that procedural path is a predictable play by a defendant with a public reputation to protect. He emphasized that judges will weigh motive and evidence, not op-eds and soundbites. The coming pretrial skirmish, Jarrett warned, will test whether this is an evidentiary contest or a political spectacle.
WATCH:
Separately, New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on allegations including bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, adding another explosive legal development to the week. Both cases now sit on parallel tracks of courtroom procedure, public argument and media theater as litigants and commentators jockey for advantage. Observers on all sides will be watching how judges respond to the early defense maneuvers.
