DOJ filed two counts alleging the former FBI director passed national-defense information to a New York Times reporter in 2016; Comey calls the case an “appalling abuse.”
Former FBI Director James Comey lashed out at President Trump and the Justice Department after prosecutors unsealed a new case alleging he passed classified national-defense information to a New York Times reporter in 2016.
The two-count filing, filed under seal Oct. 5 and made public Monday, charges Comey with transmitting and conspiring to transmit national-defense information.
The document is a criminal information, not yet a grand-jury indictment. DOJ says it used the filing to stop the 10-year statute-of-limitations clock while it pursues a grand-jury case. Comey’s lawyers moved to dismiss, arguing the law required an indictment within the decade.
Reuters reported the case centers on an alleged October 2016 disclosure to the Times. The story concerned a secret FISA court order requiring Yahoo to scan emails for messages potentially tied to a foreign terrorist organization, according to NPR.
Comey answered in a video, “It would almost be funny if it weren’t such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice.” He added, “I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid of these people.”
The Gateway Pundit reported that the classified-information case had been unsealed. It marks the third Trump DOJ criminal case against Comey. A prior false-statements case was dismissed; another prosecution tied to a social-media post remains pending.
