Federal prosecutors have filed new charges against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of unlawfully transmitting classified national defense information in connection with a 2016 news article. The unsealed documents, made public Monday in Washington, outline allegations that Comey provided sensitive information to the media regarding a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order involving Yahoo emails.
The latest criminal information, submitted last month, accuses Comey of knowingly and willfully communicating national defense information to an unauthorized recipient around October 4–5, 2016, shortly before a New York Times article disclosed details about the surveillance order. Comey’s legal team contends that the matter has already undergone two prior investigations—one under special prosecutor John Durham, and another code-named “Tropical Vortex”—both of which concluded with no charges filed. They argue the Justice Department’s new filing is barred by the statute of limitations and should be dismissed.
Comey addressed the charges in a video statement posted online, denying wrongdoing and condemning the Justice Department’s efforts as politically motivated actions that undermine the independence of the federal judiciary. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, emphasized that this marks the third attempt within just over a year by the department to prosecute Comey, who was dismissed by then-President Donald Trump in 2017 and has become a vocal critic of the former president.
The legal filing was submitted under seal and without a grand jury indictment, a procedural move known as filing a “criminal information” which the Justice Department states is a recognized practice to toll the statute of limitations and proceed with an ongoing investigation. The department declined further comment on the case.
This new prosecution effort comes amid heightened political tensions as the Trump administration continues to pursue multiple investigations and charges against Comey, including a prior federal case in Virginia dismissed due to a procedural irregularity and a pending North Carolina case involving an Instagram post with a coded phrase alleged by prosecutors to contain a threat against Trump—a claim Comey denies.
In a related development, a federal judge ruled Monday that the termination of Maurene Comey, James Comey’s daughter and a former federal prosecutor in New York, was unlawful. Judge Jesse M. Furman found that her 2025 firing violated constitutional separation of powers, administrative law, and her due process rights. Maurene Comey had been involved in high-profile prosecutions and was among numerous federal prosecutors removed without formal explanations during the Trump administration’s second term. The ruling may encourage other dismissed federal employees to challenge their terminations citing the same broad executive authority.
The renewed charges against James Comey and the ruling in favor of his daughter reflect ongoing legal and political battles surrounding the former FBI director and his family, set against the backdrop of a politically charged environment leading up to midterm elections. The Justice Department continues to pursue its cases, while the Comeys vow to fight the allegations and defend their reputations.