Former FBI Director James Comey responded to President Donald Trump's DOJ returning an indictment against him from a grand jury in an Instagram post on Thursday.

"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," Comey said. "We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either."

"Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant, but I am not afraid, and I hope that you aren't either," he continued. "Instead, I hope you are engaged and that you will vote like your beloved country depends upon it, because it does."

"My heart is broken for the great Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system," Comey added. "I am innocent. So, let's have a trial."

Comey's comments came about an hour after CNN reported that Trump's DOJ convinced a grand jury to indict the ex-FBI leader for lying to Congress and obstruction of Justice.

Comey is the first former FBI Director to be indicted by a federal grand jury.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Comey (@comey)