On the evening of September 27, 2025, viewers of MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime witnessed an unexpected moment that quickly sent ripples through political circles and cable news alike. Michael Cohen, once the fiercely loyal personal attorney and fixer to Donald Trump and now one of his most vocal critics, sat before an MSNBC panel and declared with striking certainty that former FBI Director James Comey had "committed a crime" and would likely be found guilty. This bombshell assertion came just days after Comey’s indictment on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding—charges that have reignited fierce debate over the weaponization of justice and the enduring fallout from the Trump era.
The panel, co-hosted by Elise Jordan, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Molly Jong-Fast, was visibly taken aback by Cohen’s confidence. As reported by Fox News, Cohen said, "I believe likely he will be found guilty." When pressed by the hosts, he doubled down: "I believe likely he committed a crime." Jong-Fast, caught off guard, responded with a simple, incredulous, "Wait, what?"
Cohen’s rationale for his bold prediction was rooted in his own experience with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Drawing on his 2018 guilty plea to tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress—charges that stemmed from his role in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal during Trump’s campaign—Cohen argued that the DOJ possesses a formidable arsenal. "I don’t know what that crime is, but there are hundreds of thousands of documents, and the government has each and every one of them, all they need to find is that one," he told the panel, according to The Daily Beast. "I’ve been through this system. I know better than anybody what a weaponized DOJ looks like and feels like. It is insurmountable."
Elise Jordan, seeking clarity, pressed Cohen on his own legal troubles. "Didn’t you actually break the law, though? With Stormy Daniels and the payment?" Cohen replied, "Well, it was a campaign finance violation," but added that he "pled under some very extreme circumstances." He recounted the pressure he faced from prosecutors: "My entire case didn’t last like everyone else’s. It was 48 hours… From a Friday to a Monday, either I plead guilty or Southern District of New York was filing an 80-page indictment that included my wife… we could re-litigate the whole thing, but I believe that Comey likely will be found guilty."
Comey’s indictment, handed down by a grand jury on September 25, 2025, includes two counts: making alleged false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. According to Fox News and The Daily Beast, 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." If convicted, Comey could face up to five years in prison.
Fox News Digital had exclusively reported back in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI, focusing on the veracity of his congressional testimony. The probe’s spotlight on Comey’s role in the original Trump–Russia investigation—and the subsequent fallout—has only intensified partisan debate. Cohen, for his part, told the MSNBC panel that he had conducted his own investigation with left-leaning reporter Brian Karem, claiming, "I’ve learned that Comey was actually very much involved in the Russia investigation in a very negative way." He added, "Remember, 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."
As the news of Comey’s indictment broke, the legal and political implications quickly became fodder for all sides. Cohen’s remarks were seized upon by both critics and supporters of the former FBI director. Some saw Cohen’s comments as validating long-standing grievances about the politicization of justice—especially among those who believe the DOJ had previously been wielded as a political weapon. Cohen himself argued that the DOJ had been "weaponized by the government for as long as it's been around." When asked by Mohyeldin whether he believed the DOJ had been weaponized under Trump, Cohen replied that it was weaponized "then, by Comey against Donald Trump." Elise Jordan summarized, "And so you think that there will be evidence that will show that in court, and so thus validate Donald Trump’s vendetta against James Comey." Cohen agreed, responding, "I couldn't have said it better myself."
Meanwhile, Comey is expected to turn himself in on Friday, October 3, 2025, with his arraignment set for October 9 at 10 a.m. in Alexandria Courtroom 600 before District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. The legal proceedings are sure to draw intense media scrutiny, given both the high-profile nature of the defendant and the politically charged backdrop. As reported by The Daily Beast, Comey’s indictment has the potential to upend prevailing narratives about the Trump–Russia investigation and the broader question of accountability for officials at the highest levels of law enforcement.
Cohen’s appearance on MSNBC was also a reminder of his own complicated journey. Once known as Trump’s "fixer," Cohen has since become a prominent critic of the former president, testifying publicly against him during Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hush money trial and cooperating with multiple investigations. Yet, as he reminded the panel, his experience with the justice system left him with a deep skepticism about its fairness and impartiality. "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.
The reaction from the MSNBC panel reflected the broader shockwaves Cohen’s comments sent through the media. Jordan, Mohyeldin, and Jong-Fast all expressed surprise at Cohen’s certainty, with Jong-Fast’s "Wait, what?" encapsulating the disbelief many viewers likely felt. Despite the panelists’ skepticism, Cohen remained adamant: "Chances are this DOJ has every single email, every text message, every communication. I believe likely he will be found guilty."
As the legal process unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see whether Cohen’s prediction comes to pass—and what the case might reveal about the inner workings of the DOJ, the FBI, and the enduring legacy of the Trump presidency. In an era defined by deep political polarization and questions about the impartiality of law enforcement, the Comey indictment—and the debate it has sparked—serves as yet another flashpoint in America’s ongoing reckoning with its institutions of power.
The days ahead promise courtroom drama, political theater, and, perhaps, answers to questions that have lingered since the earliest days of the Trump administration. For now, the nation waits as the wheels of justice turn, with the eyes of both supporters and skeptics trained on Alexandria’s federal courthouse.
