NewsWPLG Local 10 – PoliticsOctober 27, 2026Miami-Dade County
Justice Department files criminal information against former FBI Director James Comey over alleged 2016 leak
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Politics
The Justice Department filed a criminal information attempting to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for a decade-old leak of classified information related to a 2016 news article. Comey's legal team immediately moved to dismiss the filing, arguing the charges are invalid and barred by a 10-year statute of limitations requiring an indictment rather than an information.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – PoliticsWhy It Matters
The legal action represents an escalation in ongoing federal criminal proceedings against a former high-ranking intelligence official, raising disputes over the applicable and the procedures required to bring federal charges.
Key Facts
- The Justice Department filed a criminal information attempting to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for a decade-old leak of classified information.
- Comey's defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the information, arguing that federal law explicitly demands an indictment within a 10-year statute of limitations rather than an information.
- The underlying allegation involves an October 2016 New York Times story regarding a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order requiring Yahoo to scan emails.
- Federal authorities previously investigated the disclosure in 2017 under prosecutor John Durham, who wrote a memo in December 2018 recommending no criminal charges.
- A second investigation opened in January 2019 under the code name "Tropical Vortex" by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia was closed without charges in February 2020.
- Prosecutors allege in newly unsealed filings that Comey directed staff to speak to a journalist to correct misinformation and illegally transferred classified information.
- The current case marks the third time in just over a year that the Department of Justice has attempted to bring federal criminal charges against Comey.
- A federal judge on Monday ruled that the termination of Comey's daughter, Maurene Comey, from her position as a Justice Department prosecutor in New York last year was illegal.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationCircuit Courts of Appeals“Courts that have approved filing a criminal information to toll the statute of l”OrganizationJustice Department“Federal department undertaking investigative and prosecutorial actions against C”OrganizationFBI“Federal Bureau of Investigation.”locationWASHINGTON“Dateline location of the report.”locationNew York“Location where Maurene Comey worked and where the New York Times story was relev”OrganizationNew York Times“Newspaper that published the 2016 story regarding a secret court order.”PersonRobert Mueller“Special counsel who took over the inquiry into potential ties between Russia and”locationDistrict of Columbia“Location of the U.S. Attorney's office that opened a second investigation.”PersonGeorge W. Bush“Former President during whose administration Comey served as a senior Justice De”OrganizationForeign Intelligence Surveillance Court“Court that issued a secret order involving Yahoo.”OrganizationReuters“News organization that published information prior to the New York Times story.”OrganizationYahoo“Company subject to a secret court order requiring email scanning.”PersonPatrick Fitzgerald“Attorney representing James Comey.”PersonMaurene Comey“Former Justice Department prosecutor and daughter of James Comey.”locationVirginia“Location of the federal court where the first criminal case against Comey was fi”PersonJohn Durham“Prosecutor who previously investigated the disclosure.”PersonDonald Trump“President of the United States.”PersonBarack Obama“Former President who appointed James Comey.”PersonJames Comey“Former FBI Director facing attempted prosecution by the Justice Department.”OrganizationU.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia“Opened a second investigation into the disclosure under the code name Tropical V”