Justice Department charges former FBI Director James Comey for third time

Former FBI Director James Comey is facing a third set of federal charges, which were unsealed on Monday, October 26, 2026. The Justice Department has charged Comey with two counts related to the alleged wrongful transmission of national defense information and conspiracy to transmit such information. If convicted, Comey could face a prison sentence of 10 years.

These new charges stem from an alleged disclosure of classified information to a New York Times reporter in October 2016, during Comey's tenure as FBI Director. Prosecutors assert that Comey directed staff to communicate with the reporter to correct misinformation in a previous article, which resulted in the illegal transfer of classified material. The charges were filed as a "criminal information" on October 5, 2026, a legal step taken to extend the 10-year statute of limitations for such offenses.

Comey has denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence and criticizing the charges as an "appalling abuse of the Department of Justice." This marks the third instance of federal charges brought against Comey since President Donald Trump began his second term. Previous cases included allegations of lying to Congress, which were dismissed due to an unlawfully appointed prosecutor, and charges related to a social media post, which remain ongoing.