Ex-FBI chief and Trump critic James Comey hit with fresh charges

Former FBI director James Comey has been charged with allegedly disclosing national defence information, marking his third criminal case. According to a criminal complaint unsealed on Monday, Comey is accused of communicating sensitive information in October 2016 to someone who was not authorized to receive it. Comey previously faced charges in September 2025 for making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, which were dismissed by a federal judge due to unlawful appointment of the US attorney by President Trump.

In April, Comey was indicted for allegedly threatening President Trump's life in an Instagram post, with the Justice Department claiming that the sequence of numbers within the post constitutes a threat to the president. Comey has consistently denied these allegations, stating his innocence and expressing disbelief at the perceived abuse of the Department of Justice.

In response to the latest charges, Comey posted a video on his Substack expressing similar sentiments, maintaining his innocence and belief in the independent federal judiciary. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, stated that the charges were previously investigated by prosecutors during the first Trump administration and deemed not to warrant further action.

Comey's attorney also noted that the government determined no charges should be brought against anyone in the prior case. The unsealing of court documents came shortly after a US federal judge ruled that Comey's daughter, Maurene Comey, had been unlawfully dismissed from her position as a federal prosecutor in New York, citing potential bias and violation of her due process rights.