Comey prosecution

What's happening

The Justice Department has charged former FBI director James Comey with two counts of leaking national defense information, filed in federal court in Washington DC through a criminal information filing rather than a grand jury indictment.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information) The charges mark the third time the department has brought federal criminal charges against Comey, who has been a critic of President Donald Trump.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information)2(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges former FBI Director James Comey a third time) Comey denied wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack, calling the charges an appalling abuse of the Justice Department, while a Justice Department spokesperson said the filing was made to toll the statute of limitations.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information)

How we got here

1. On October 26, 2026, the Justice Department charged former FBI director James Comey with federal crimes for a third time, with reports saying the case involves alleged leaking of information.2(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges former FBI Director James Comey a third time)
2. Coverage that day reported that the department says Comey allegedly leaked information, and that the charge involves knowingly communicating national defense information to an unauthorized recipient.2(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges former FBI Director James Comey a third time)
3. A separate report that day said the charges were two counts of leaking national defense information, filed in federal court in Washington DC through a criminal information filing, not a grand jury indictment.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information)
4. Comey's attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the case stems from a 2016 New York Times article already investigated by prosecutors, and Comey denied wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack, calling the charges an appalling abuse of the Justice Department.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information)
5. A Justice Department spokesperson said the filing was made to toll the statute of limitations.1(source: Oct 26: Justice Department charges ex-FBI director James Comey with leaking defense information)