Former FBI Director James Comey is facing new criminal charges over allegations that he disclosed sensitive national defence information to the media.
According to court documents, the allegations relate to information allegedly shared with The New York Times in October 2016, when Comey was leading the FBI. His lawyers said the case involves two charges, although the filing provides few details about the accusations.
Comey rejected the allegations in a video posted on Substack on Monday. He described the prosecution as an abuse of the justice system and maintained that he had done nothing wrong. He also expressed confidence in the independence of the federal courts.
The charges were filed through a criminal information, a document that allows prosecutors to bring charges without obtaining a grand jury indictment. Comey’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss the case.
His lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said two separate prosecution teams had previously examined the alleged disclosure. Both investigations concluded that criminal charges should not be brought against anyone, he stated.
Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner also questioned whether the case could proceed. He suggested that the 10-year legal deadline for bringing charges may have expired, potentially strengthening Comey’s request for dismissal. Kirschner described the prosecution as politically motivated.
Comey has faced previous legal action during Trump’s presidency. In September 2025, a grand jury indicted him over allegations involving false statements to Congress and obstruction. He pleaded not guilty, but the case was dismissed in November.
Another case began in April 2026 over a social media photograph Comey shared in 2025. The image showed seashells arranged to display “86 47”. Prosecutors alleged that the message threatened Trump, while Comey said he did not understand its alleged meaning. That case remains ongoing.
The latest charges became public on the same day a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in New York. She had sued the government over her dismissal in July 2025. The judge ruled that she must return to her position and receive back pay.
