Justice Department Charges James Comey with Leaking National Defense Information

The Justice Department has criminally charged former FBI Director James Comey for a third time. This move marks an extraordinary effort by the Trump administration to prosecute one of the president's most prominent political enemies. The new accusations center on alleged leaks of national defense information from October 2016. Specifically, prosecutors claim Comey transmitted sensitive data and conspired to do so while serving as FBI director.

These charges were filed in federal court in Washington, DC. They appear to stem from actions taken exactly ten years ago this month. This is the third time Comey has faced criminal charges since Donald Trump began his second term. He has not yet been indicted. His lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the charges earlier this month. Both sides are expected to appear in federal court on Friday.

A Justice Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail that prosecutors filed "waiverless criminal information." This step extends the ten-year statute of limitations for these specific allegations. The spokesperson noted that this is a "widely recognized practice in federal court." They added that multiple Circuit Courts of Appeals have approved such moves.

Comey's legal team refutes that notion. The former director has consistently denied any wrongdoing. On Monday evening, he responded to the news in a video statement. "DOJ's latest actions 'would almost be funny,'" Comey said. He described the situation as an "appalling abuse of the Department of Justice." He warned that the public cannot become numb to such conduct.

"I’m still innocent," Comey stated. "I’m still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary." His voice remained steady despite the escalating pressure.

This development follows two previous charges brought by the Justice Department last year. One alleged he made false statements to Congress. The other accused him of threatening Trump via a photo shared on social media. A federal judge ordered the first case dismissed. Comey pleaded not guilty in the second. He has called both efforts "vindictive" and selective prosecutions by the current administration.

Few details about the new Washington, DC charges have been made public. The unsealing came hours after a separate federal judge ruled that the Justice Department illegally fired his daughter, Maurene Comey. She had served as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York. The court ordered her reinstated last July, along with back pay.

The Justice Department has struggled to bring charges against perceived political foes during Trump's second term. The president had vowed "retribution" while campaigning for a second term. Early attempts to prosecute critics were dismissed by federal courts. Other efforts, including the "grand conspiracy" probe in the Southern District of Florida, have faced significant hurdles. High-profile departures have further complicated those investigations.