Department of Justice files criminal information against James Comey

The United States Department of Justice has filed a two-count criminal information against former FBI Director James Comey. The filing accuses Comey of violating the Espionage Act by passing classified national defense material to an unauthorized individual, stemming from an alleged disclosure in October 2016.

Prosecutors utilized a criminal information filing rather than a grand jury indictment. A Department spokesperson stated the maneuver was intended to toll the statute of limitations on an ongoing investigation before it expired. Legal experts have noted that using a criminal information to bypass a grand jury in a felony case is highly unusual, particularly in Washington, D.C.

Some legal analysts have criticized the strategy, suggesting the charges may be flawed or that the decision to bypass grand jury scrutiny reflects internal issues within the Department of Justice.