Comey charged in third federal case over 2016 leak
Prosecutors filed a criminal information to pause the statute of limitations on allegations that the former FBI director shared classified details with a New York Times reporter.
By Talia Bennett ·
James Comey, the former FBI director, now faces a third federal prosecution. Court documents made public on Monday reveal that the US Justice Department filed a criminal information accusing him of transmitting national defense information in 2016. The specific allegation is that Comey shared classified material with a reporter from the New York Times in October 2016.
The legal maneuver is tied to the statute of limitations. The Justice Department filed the document on October 5 to prevent the 10-year clock on the offense from expiring. The case had remained hidden until Monday, when Comey’s lawyers requested that the court unseal the information. A Justice Department spokesperson described this filing strategy as a widely recognized practice in federal court.
Comey has a history of legal disputes with the Department of Justice. He has already been charged twice previously. In the first case, prosecutors accused him of lying to Congress about media leaks, a charge a judge later dismissed. The second case, which remains pending, involves accusations that he threatened President Donald Trump in a social media post.
The former director reacted to the new filing on social media. In an Instagram video, Comey stated that they are back again, referencing the Justice Department. He added that he is still innocent. His legal team has moved to end the case before it progresses.
Patrick Fitzgerald, Comey’s lawyer, issued a statement claiming the document purports to charge his client with crimes he did not commit. Fitzgerald has asked a judge to dismiss the case, arguing it is legally improper. The Justice Department has declined to offer further comment, noting that the matter is an ongoing criminal investigation.
The unsealing of the document provides a clear timeline for the next steps. The filing on October 5 reset the statutory deadline, allowing prosecutors to continue their case against the former director while his lawyers challenge the procedural basis of the charge in federal court.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
