James Comey, the former FBI director and a high-profile critic of US President Donald Trump, is facing new criminal charges after prosecutors accused him of improperly disclosing national defence information — the third case brought against him in recent years.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, Mr Comey is alleged to have communicated the information in October 2016, while serving as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to a “person not entitled to receive it”.
The new filing follows an earlier prosecution that began in September 2025, when Mr Comey was charged with making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding — a case widely viewed as retaliation by the Republican president against a political adversary.
That matter did not proceed after a federal judge dismissed it, finding that the US attorney selected by Mr Trump to bring the charges had been unlawfully appointed.
Mr Comey was indicted again in April, this time accused of threatening Mr Trump’s life in an Instagram post that showed the numbers “86 47” spelled out in sea shells.
James Comey has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump
The Trump administration’s Justice Department has argued that “86 47” amounted to a threat to the president — asserting that “86” means to kill and that “47” refers to Mr Trump being the 47th president.
Mr Comey has denied threatening the president’s life.
‘I’m still innocent’
In the latest case, prosecutors allege Mr Comey directed an unidentified person to “disclose national defence information to a reporter for a national news publication”.
“They’re back again,” Mr Comey said in a video posted on his Substack responding to the newest charges.
“It would almost be funny if it weren’t such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice,” he said. “I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary.”
In a statement to US media, Mr Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said prosecutors had examined the same allegations during Mr Trump’s first term and that “the government determined that no charges should be brought against anyone”.
“Mr Comey steadfastly maintains his innocence,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
The court documents were made public only hours after a US federal judge found that the July 2025 dismissal of Mr Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey — a former federal prosecutor in New York — was unlawful.
Ms Comey sued the Department of Justice, arguing she had been fired “solely or substantially” because of her father’s criticism of Mr Trump or “because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs”.
District Judge Jesse Furman, ruling against the Department of Justice, said Ms Comey had been denied due process and ordered that she be reinstated.
Since returning to office, Mr Trump has pursued a series of punitive actions against people he views as opponents, including removing government officials considered disloyal, taking aim at law firms connected to previous cases against him, and withdrawing federal funding from universities.
