Former FBI director James Comey has been charged by the US Department of Justice with allegedly leaking national defence information, the third time he has been indicted in the past 13 months.
The charges, unsealed on Monday in the US, accuse Mr Comey of directing an individual, “through one and more co-conspirators”, to disclose national defence information to a reporter from a national news publication in 2016, when he was FBI director.
The case was filed exactly 10 years after the alleged leak took place, which is the statute of limitations for unauthorised disclosure offences.
The document was signed by Trent McCotter, the acting US deputy attorney-general. He was appointed to the position by Attorney-General Todd Blanche in April.
James Comey denies wrongdoing
Mr Comey responded to the latest charges in a video posted on Instagram. “Well, they’re back – again,” he said.
“It would almost be funny if it weren’t such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice, one that we cannot become numb to.
“Nothing’s changed with me, I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary.
“The next couple of years are going to be hard for all of us. It’s really important that we stand straight, and keep the faith in America.”
Mr Comey is already facing charges connected to an Instagram photograph showing seashells arranged on a beach to spell “86 47”. Prosecutors alleged that the image was a death threat against Donald Trump because “86” can mean getting rid of something in restaurant terminology and has also been used as a mob term.
Last year, Mr Comey was indicted over allegations that he made false statements to a Senate hearing in 2020 and obstructed a congressional investigation. A judge later dismissed that case after finding that the prosecutor who brought it, Lindsey Halligan, had been illegally appointed. Ms Halligan is a former personal lawyer to Mr Trump.
