Comey charged with leaking 2016 national defense data
The Justice Department filed a new criminal information to halt the statute of limitations on allegations that the former FBI director shared classified details with a New York Times reporter.
By Vikram Harrison ·
The Justice Department filed a new criminal charge against former FBI Director James Comey on Monday, accusing him of transmitting national defense information in October 2016. The filing, known as a criminal information, was submitted to federal court in Washington to stop the ten-year statute of limitations from expiring earlier this month.
Court documents allege that Comey shared classified information with a reporter from the New York Times. The charge also includes a count for conspiring to transmit that data. This is the third federal case brought against Comey, who already faces a pending prosecution for threatening President Donald Trump in a social media post. A judge previously dismissed a separate case involving allegations that he lied to Congress about media leaks.
Comey reacted to the news in an Instagram video, stating, "They're back again," while referencing the Justice Department. He added, "I'm still innocent," but did not provide additional details. His legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the new case, arguing that the legal procedure is improper.
Patrick Fitzgerald, Comey's attorney, issued a statement claiming the document "purports to charge Mr. Comey with crimes that he did not commit." Although the criminal information was filed on October 5, it remained sealed until Monday. Comey's lawyers requested the unsealing to formally challenge the charge.
A Justice Department spokesperson described the maneuver to pause the limitations clock as a widely recognized practice in federal court. The spokesperson called the matter an ongoing criminal investigation and said the department would not comment further. The next step involves the judge deciding whether to accept the information or dismiss the case as legally improper.
The new charge adds to the legal pressure on Comey, who has faced multiple federal investigations since leaving the FBI. The Justice Department's filing aims to keep the specific 2016 leak allegation alive under current federal law.
