In brief
This marks the third time the Justice Department has pursued criminal charges against the former FBI director. Prosecutors allege Comey leaked classified national defense information to the New York Times in October 2016. The charges are brought via a criminal information, bypassing a grand jury. Comey denies wrongdoing and calls the case politically motivated, while his attorneys seek dismissal on statute‑of‑limitations grounds. The case adds to a series of legal battles for Comey over allegations related to Trump.
By Sareen Habeshian
Federal prosecutors have again charged former FBI Director James Comey with leaking national defence information, according to a court filing. This is the third time the Justice Department has pursued criminal charges against him.
Prosecutors say the alleged disclosure occurred in October 2016, when Comey, then head of the FBI, is said to have revealed classified material to the New York Times. The charges are brought through a criminal information rather than a grand jury indictment.
Comey denied any wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack and has called the lawsuit an “appalling abuse” of the DOJ, noting that he remains “still innocent.” His lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the case may exceed the 10‑year statute of limitations and is politically motivated.
The case comes amid a string of legal controversies for Comey, including a prior indictment over congressional testimony and a charge for allegedly threatening President Trump's life via a social‑media post. Meanwhile, a judge ruled the Trump administration illegally fired Comey’s daughter, directing her reinstatement and back pay.
