Comey accused of leaking national defense data in 2016

The Justice Department has moved to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for a third time. The new charge alleges that Comey shared sensitive national security information with a reporter in October 2016. Court documents made public on Monday reveal the specific allegations against the former director.

The legal team for the Justice Department filed a document called a criminal information on October 5. This filing was designed to stop the 10-year statute of limitations for the offense from expiring earlier that month. The document charges Comey with transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defense information. It specifically points to his sharing of classified material with a New York Times reporter.

Comey responded to the news via an Instagram video. He stated, "they're back again," referencing the Justice Department. He added, "I'm still innocent," without providing further details on the case. His lawyers have already asked a judge to dismiss the new charge, arguing that the filing is legally improper.

Patrick Fitzgerald, Comey's lawyer, issued a statement regarding the new document. Fitzgerald said the filing "purports to charge Mr. Comey with crimes that he did not commit." The criminal information remained sealed until Monday, when it was unsealed at the request of Comey's legal team.

This is the third federal case against Comey. The Justice Department previously charged him with 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. A Justice Department spokesperson described the statute of limitations maneuver as a "widely recognized practice in federal court." The spokesperson noted that the investigation is ongoing and that the department would not comment further.