White House / President·Justice Department

Justice Department charges James Comey a third time, alleging he leaked national defense information in 2016

Published 6:00 AM CT, Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · Updated 6:16 AM CT
In the 6 AM CT update

Federal prosecutors have charged former FBI Director James Comey with transmitting national defense information and conspiracy, in a criminal information filed under seal Oct. 5 and unsealed Monday by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, NBC News reported. Prosecutors allege Comey directed staff to speak to a New York Times reporter about an Oct. 5, 2016, article and thereby "illegally transferred classified information"; Comey's lawyers say the case is time-barred because no grand jury indicted him, and he has not been indicted. The Justice Department said filing an information to pause the statute of limitations is "a widely recognized practice," while Comey called the case "an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice."

• James Comey
• Justice Department
• FBI
• Classified information
• Espionage Act
• Trevor McFadden
• Statute of limitations
• Rule of law