[REVISION HISTORY]

Legal proceedings against James Comey

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2026-10-30 19:25 UTC → 2026-10-30 23:37 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The United States Department of Justice has filed a two-count criminal information against former FBI Director James Comey in a Washington, D.C. federal court. The charges allege that Comey violated the Espionage Act by willfully communicating and conspiring to disclose national defense information to an unauthorized person in October 2016. The allegations involve a disclosure to a reporter, specifically Charlie Savage, regarding a secret court order involving Yahoo email traffic. Prosecutors utilized a criminal information filing rather than a grand jury indictment, a move a Department spokesperson stated was intended to toll the statute of limitations while an investigation remains ongoing. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek additional charges for alleged conduct occurring through April 2017 to extend this deadline. On October 30, 2026, Comey appeared before Judge Trevor McFadden to argue for a dismissal of the case. His legal team contends the prosecution is time-barred and that using a criminal information to pause the statute of limitations is “legally invalid.” Comey has denied all wrongdoing, characterizing the prosecution as an “appalling abuse” of the Department of Justice and a campaign of political retribution. His defense also noted that two previous investigations into the matter by U.S. attorneys' offices did not result in charges. During the hearing, prosecutors claimed they have uncovered new evidence that could extend the window for charges through April 2017. Judge McFadden did not immediately rule on the request to dismiss the case.

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