James Comey Charged with Communicating National Defense Information

Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged for the third time with federal crimes according to a newly unsealed court filing in Washington, D.C. He faces charges of knowingly communicating information related to national defense to an unauthorized person and conspiring to violate laws governing such disclosures. The charges relate to an alleged disclosure of classified information to The New York Times on October 5, 2016.

Comey requested the unsealing of the court filing and is seeking to dismiss the new case on grounds that the statute of limitations expired. His lawyers state that the alleged disclosure was investigated twice previously by U.S. Attorneys, both of whom declined to prosecute. The Department of Justice filed the charges on October 5 and initially had the case sealed citing the risk of compromising an ongoing investigation.

This case follows a recent court ruling in New York where a judge found the Department of Justice unlawfully fired Comey's daughter, Maurene Comey, who was an assistant U.S. attorney. The new charges highlight ongoing tensions between Comey and the Justice Department under the Trump administration, which previously fired Comey as FBI director in 2017. For ordinary observers, this legal proceeding will determine if Comey faces trial or dismissal based on the statute of limitations and previous investigations.