FBI Chief Accused of Sharing 2016 Secrets
Prosecutors filed a new legal document to prevent the ten-year deadline for this case from expiring.
By Beatriz Soto ·
The U.S. Justice Department filed a new legal document on Monday to keep a decade-old clock running on a case against James Comey, the former FBI director. The filing, known as a criminal information, was submitted to Washington federal court to stop the ten-year statute of limitations from expiring in early 2026.
The document accuses Comey of transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defense information. It claims he shared classified details with a reporter from The New York Times in October 2016. The Justice Department stated that halting the statute of limitations is a widely recognized practice in federal court.
This is the third federal case brought against Comey. Prosecutors previously charged him with lying to Congress about media leaks and threatening President Donald Trump in a social media post. A judge dismissed the false statements case, but the threats case is still pending. The new filing adds to the legal pressure on the former agency head.
Comey responded to the news in an Instagram video, stating that "they're back again" and referencing the Justice Department. He added, "I'm still innocent." His legal team has already asked a judge to dismiss the case, arguing that the filing is legally improper.
Patrick Fitzgerald, Comey's lawyer, said in a statement that the document purports to charge his client with crimes he did not commit. The criminal information was filed on October 5 but remained sealed until Monday. Comey's lawyers requested the unsealing of the document.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the matter is an ongoing criminal investigation. The spokesperson added that the department will not comment further on the details of the case.
