James Comey Hit With New Federal Charge in 2016 Disclosure Case
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Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again, this time over allegations that he helped direct the release of national defense information to a reporter, deepening a case many see as yet another politically charged escalation. The charge marks his third federal case as he battles prosecutors and denounces what he calls a blatant abuse of the Department of Justice.
A federal information unsealed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. accuses former FBI Director James Comey of knowingly communicating national defense information to an unauthorized individual and conspiring with others to violate the law. The filing says Comey, "through one or more co-conspirators," directed an unnamed person to disclose the information to a reporter for a national news outlet, with the alleged disclosure tied to material provided to The New York Times on Oct. 5, 2016.
Comey has filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the ten-year statute of limitations for a grand jury indictment on the 2016 incident expired. His attorneys also contend that the Department of Justice filed a sealed "faulty information" to pause the limitations period, in what they portray as a legally dubious attempt to keep the case alive.
The case follows earlier indictments against Comey, including a September 2025 grand jury indictment in Virginia for false statements and obstruction tied to his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, which was dismissed after a judge ruled the appointing U.S. attorney was invalidly selected. Comey is also contesting a separate North Carolina indictment alleging he threatened President Donald Trump's life by posting a photo of arranged seashells on Instagram.
In a video posted to Substack, Comey described the new filing as an "appalling abuse of the Department of Justice" and repeated his claim of innocence, while saying he trusts his legal team and the independence of the federal judiciary to withstand the pressure of the case.