Comey faces third federal charge

Former FBI Director James Comey is facing a third federal prosecution after the Justice Department filed a new charge in Washington federal court. The criminal information accuses Comey of sharing sensitive national security information in October 2016. Specifically, the charge alleges he transmitted and conspired to transmit classified data to a New York Times reporter.

The Justice Department filed the document on October 5, 2026. The action was taken to stop the 10-year statute of limitations from expiring earlier this month. A department spokesperson described the move as a widely recognized practice in federal court. The office stated that the case is an ongoing criminal investigation and declined to comment further.

Comey's legal team requested that the judge unseal the filing on Monday. This move made the details of the charge public. Patrick Fitzgerald, Comey's lawyer, issued a statement regarding the filing. He said the document purports to charge Comey with crimes that he did not commit. Fitzgerald and his team have already asked a judge to dismiss the case, arguing it is legally improper.

This development adds to the legal battles Comey has faced recently. The Justice Department previously charged him twice for separate offenses. Those prior cases accused him of lying to Congress about media leaks and threatening President Donald Trump in a social media post. A judge dismissed the false statements case, while the threats case remains pending.

Comey addressed the news in an Instagram video posted on Monday. He said, "they're back again," referencing the Justice Department. He added, "I'm still innocent," but did not provide further details about the new charge or his defense strategy.