Trump administration files third set of charges against former FBI director James Comey, who has denied any wrongdoing in a decade-old case. The charges, which could be barred by statute of limitations, are part of a pattern of repeated attempts to prosecute Comey under the current administration.
The charges relate to a 2016 New York Times article that revealed a secret court order requiring Yahoo to scan emails for messages linked to a foreign terrorist organization. Federal authorities, including then-Special Counsel John Durham, investigated the FBI's disclosure to The New York Times in 2017, but concluded no charges should be brought. The Trump administration has since reopened the case, filing a criminal information to toll the statute of limitations.
Comey's attorneys have rejected the charges, arguing they are invalid and outside the time limit. The charges are being filed without approval from a judge or grand jury, and Comey has maintained his innocence. The case is being handled by a Trump-appointed federal judge, raising concerns about potential political motivations behind the prosecution.
Comey, a long-time critic of Trump, was fired in 2017 amid an FBI investigation into potential Russia-Trump campaign collusion. The Trump administration has sought to prosecute several of its critics, including Comey, since returning to office in 2025. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and former officials.