US Justice Department brings third case against former FBI Director James Comey

Washington, United States. The US Justice Department is pursuing a third prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, this time over allegations that he disclosed sensitive national security information in 2016, according to court documents made public on Monday.

Details of the new charges

The case appears in a filing known as a “criminal information,” which the Justice Department said it submitted to prevent the ten-year limitation period for the alleged offense from running out earlier this month. The document, lodged in federal court in Washington, accuses Comey of sharing and conspiring to share national defense information. It alleges he passed classified material to a New York Times reporter in October 2016.

The filing is dated October 5 but was unsealed on Monday after Comey’s lawyers requested it.

Reactions

In a video on Instagram, Comey said the Justice Department was back again, without giving more detail. He added, “I’m still innocent.” His lawyers have already asked a judge to throw out the case, arguing that it is legally improper.

His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said in a statement that the document alleges offenses Comey did not commit.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, was asked about Comey and called him a “dirty cop”. Trump also said he did not know much about the matter.

A Justice Department spokesperson described the step taken to stop the limitation period from expiring as a practice broadly accepted in federal courts. The spokesperson said the matter is an ongoing criminal investigation and that no further comment would be made.

Earlier cases

The Justice Department has already charged Comey twice. One case accused him of lying to Congress about media leaks, and the other accused him of threatening Trump in a social media post. A judge dismissed the false statements case, while the threats case remains pending.