Allegations of leaking classified information date back to 2016; Comey’s lawyers challenge legal validity of the case
By Ali Khan
The Trump administration is making another effort to pursue criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey over allegations involving the disclosure of sensitive government information to the media in 2016. Comey’s lawyers are challenging the legal validity of the latest move.
According to an NPR report published Monday, October 26, the Justice Department filed a criminal information in an effort to preserve the 10-year statute of limitations associated with the allegations. The case is connected to a New York Times report published in October 2016 that referenced a secret court order concerning Yahoo email surveillance.
Prosecutors allege that Comey arranged for sensitive government information to reach a newspaper reporter. His attorneys have disputed the allegations and challenged the legal basis for the proceedings, arguing that the filing does not satisfy the applicable legal requirements. They have asked the court to dismiss the case.
Comey has maintained his innocence. A Justice Department spokesperson, meanwhile, said filing a criminal information to preserve a statute-of-limitations deadline is a recognized procedure in federal court. The department declined to comment further on the ongoing matter.
Comey was dismissed as FBI director by President Donald Trump in May 2017, while the bureau was investigating possible links between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The dispute between the two has continued since then.
The latest legal move raises questions about the admissibility of the charges and the applicable statute of limitations. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the legal proceedings remain ongoing.
