Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen surprised an MSNBC panel on September 27, 2025, by declaring his belief that former FBI Director James Comey had committed a crime and would likely be found guilty following Comey’s recent indictment. Cohen’s unexpected assertion came during an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Weekend: Primetime,” leaving panelists visibly taken aback.
The discussion occurred just two days after Comey was indicted by a grand jury on September 25, 2025, on two counts: making alleged false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The charges stem from an FBI investigation into whether Comey lied to Congress during his September 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the Trump-Russia probe, internally known as “Crossfire Hurricane.”
During the Saturday evening broadcast, Cohen told panelists Elise Jordan, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Molly Jong-Fast that he believed Comey would likely be found guilty. When pressed by the hosts, Cohen doubled down on his position, stating, “I believe likely he committed a crime.” Jong-Fast responded with incredulity, asking, “Wait, what?”
Cohen based his prediction on his own experience with the Department of Justice, drawing from his 2018 guilty plea to tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress. He indicated that the DOJ possesses extensive documentation and only needs to find one incriminating document to secure a conviction. Cohen described his familiarity with what he characterized as a weaponized DOJ, calling the system insurmountable.
The former Trump fixer explained that he had conducted his own investigation with left-leaning reporter Brian Karem, claiming to have learned that Comey was heavily involved in the Russia investigation in what he described as a very negative way. Cohen suggested that Comey, as head of the FBI, was accustomed to wielding power against subordinates but would now face scrutiny from the very agency he once led.
When Jordan pressed Cohen about his own legal troubles, specifically regarding the Stormy Daniels hush money payments, Cohen acknowledged his campaign finance violation but emphasized the extreme circumstances under which he pleaded guilty. He recounted facing pressure from prosecutors over a 48-hour period, from Friday to Monday, with threats that the Southern District of New York would file an 80-page indictment that would have included his wife if he did not accept the plea deal.
Cohen argued that the DOJ had been weaponized by the government for as long as it had existed. When Mohyeldin asked for clarification about whether he believed the DOJ had been weaponized under Trump, Cohen indicated it was weaponized then by Comey against Trump. Jordan summarized Cohen’s argument as suggesting there would be evidence shown in court that would validate Trump’s grievances against Comey, to which Cohen agreed.
The former attorney expressed confidence that the current DOJ has access to every email, text message, and communication related to Comey’s case. Cohen suggested that with hundreds of thousands of documents in the government’s possession, prosecutors would only need to find one piece of evidence to prove their case against the former FBI director.
If convicted on the charges, Comey could face up to five years in prison. The former FBI director has his arraignment scheduled for October 9 at 10 a.m. in Alexandria Courtroom 600 before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Cohen’s transformation from Trump’s loyal personal attorney and fixer to one of his most vocal critics has made him a frequent commentator on legal matters involving the former president’s administration. He previously cooperated with investigations into Trump, publicly testifying against him during Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hush money trial.
The indictment represents a significant development in the ongoing fallout from the Trump-Russia investigation. Fox News Digital had previously reported in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI, focusing specifically on the veracity of his congressional testimony regarding his handling of the original Trump-Russia probe.
Cohen’s confident prediction about Comey’s fate reflects his belief that the legal system’s extensive resources and documentation capabilities make successful prosecution likely in high-profile cases. His comments on the MSNBC panel have drawn attention across political and media circles, particularly given his unique perspective as someone who has navigated similar federal charges and emerged as a critic of his former employer.