Troy A. Edwards Jr., the son-in-law of James Comey, stepped down from his position as a senior national security prosecutor at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, following the indictment of the former FBI director by the Federal University Ju trial.
In a letter to Lindsay Harrigan, who represents the U.S. Attorney General for the Eastern District of Virginia, Edwards stated, “To support my constitution and my oath to the country, I will soon resign here as US lawyer for the Department of Justice’s Eastern District of Virginia.”
Edwards had been part of the same U.S. attorney’s office that brought two counts against Comey, who has frequently criticized President Trump. Edwards held the role of deputy chief of the national security sector, overseeing matters related to the CIA and the Department of Defense.
Comey faces two charges: making a false statement and obstructing legislative proceedings. These allegations arise from his testimony in 2020 regarding the investigation into possible election interference involving Trump and Russia. The indictment followed calls from the president to prosecute Comey, whom he views as a political foe.
While Trump welcomed the charges, Comey maintained his innocence, asserting that he was not “fearing.”
Edwards was part of the team that successfully prosecuted Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, who conspired to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump eventually pardoned Rhodes and other leaders involved in the insurrection.
The indictment claims Comey misled Congress by telling a Senate committee that he didn’t permit anyone from the FBI to act as an anonymous source, which the DOJ alleges is false.
Democrats have spoken out against the charges, suggesting that the criminal justice system is being misused. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a prominent member of the House Judiciary Committee, remarked that Comey “has barely a chance” of being convicted.
Edwards’ resignation follows a recent dismissal of his daughter, Mohren Comey, from her position as a prosecutor for the Southern District of New York. She had contested her firing in July, claiming it lacked justification and that she was not given an opportunity to contest it.
