By The Republic Standard News Staff
The Justice Department is seeking to bring a new case against former FBI Director James Comey over an alleged leak of classified information, while Comey’s legal team argues the effort is invalid under the applicable statute of limitations.
The matter concerns an October 2016 New York Times article about a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order involving Yahoo’s email-scanning practices. Federal authorities began examining the disclosure in early 2017.
Comey’s lawyers say the 10-year limitations period prevents a prosecution. The department filed a criminal information in an effort to preserve the case before the deadline, while stating that its investigation remains active. Comey’s attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the filing, which remains under consideration.
Earlier Investigations Ended Without Charges
Former special counsel John Durham recommended against criminal charges in a classified memorandum dated December 2018. A separate investigation, opened in January 2019 under the name Tropical Vortex, also ended without charges in February 2020.
Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Comey continues to deny wrongdoing. “For the third time in little more than one year, the Department of Justice has attempted to charge Mr. Comey with a federal crime,” Fitzgerald said.
Comey said he is innocent and voiced support for an independent federal judiciary. He called the department’s conduct “an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice” in a public statement.
Other Cases Remain Pending or Were Dismissed
Comey has faced two other criminal cases since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. A prior case accused him of lying to Congress in 2020, but a judge dismissed it after determining that the prosecutor handling it had been illegally appointed.
A separate indictment remains pending over an Instagram image that displayed the numbers “86 47.” That case alleges Comey threatened Trump through the post.
Comey led the FBI when Trump entered office in 2017. President Barack Obama appointed him FBI director. Before leading the bureau, Comey served as a senior Justice Department official during President George W. Bush’s administration.
Category: Republic
Tags: James Comey, Department of Justice, Donald Trump, FBI