by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – The Justice Department has launched a third criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of illegally disclosing classified national security information to a journalist in 2016, according to federal court documents unsealed Monday.
Prosecutors allege that Comey directed FBI personnel to provide sensitive information to a New York Times reporter concerning a secret surveillance program involving Yahoo and U.S. intelligence agencies.
The filing accuses Comey of transmitting national defense information and conspiring to transmit such information. Unlike a grand jury indictment, however, the charges were filed through a legal document known as a criminal information, leaving prosecutors with additional procedural hurdles before a trial can proceed.
The Justice Department filed the document under seal on October 5, seeking to preserve the case before the expiration of a 10-year statute of limitations.
Comey’s attorneys have challenged the prosecution, arguing that the government failed to obtain a timely grand jury indictment. Federal prosecutors maintain that their filing legally preserved the charges.
Third Prosecution Under Trump Administration
The latest case follows two previous criminal proceedings against Comey since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
The first, involving allegations that Comey lied to Congress about media disclosures, was dismissed after a federal judge determined that the prosecutor who brought the case had been improperly appointed.
A second case, involving allegations that Comey threatened Trump through a social media post featuring seashells arranged to read “8647,” remains pending.
The newest allegations were previously examined by federal investigators during Trump’s first administration. According to Comey’s defense attorneys, both investigations ended without criminal charges.
Comey, whom Trump dismissed in May 2017 amid the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, continues to deny wrongdoing.
“I’m still innocent,” Comey said in a video statement Monday, accusing the Justice Department of abusing its authority.
His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said the former FBI director would vigorously contest the allegations.
The latest prosecution renews a decade-long confrontation between Trump and Comey while raising significant legal questions about classified disclosures, prosecutorial authority and the statute of limitations.
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