James Comey charged for a third time by the Trump administration

Federal prosecutors have charged former FBI Director James Comey with transmitting national defense information and conspiracy to transmit it, according to a criminal information unsealed Monday, which NBC News and The Globe and Mail report was filed Oct. 5 in Washington federal court. The charges allege Comey directed staff to speak to a New York Times reporter about a October 5, 2016 article, thereby illegally transferring classified information, according to prosecutors' filing. The Sydney Morning Herald reports the charges accuse Comey of directing an individual to disclose national defence information to a reporter. Comey's lawyers, including Patrick Fitzgerald, said the charges concern an article two prosecution teams previously investigated without charges, that the filing was not approved by a judge or grand jury, and that it charges crimes he did not commit. Comey's lawyers have moved to dismiss, arguing the case is time-barred. A Justice Department spokesperson said filing the information tolls the statute of limitations and is an ongoing investigation. Comey said he is innocent. This is the third case against him; the earlier false-statements case was dismissed and a threats case is pending.

Where accounts differ. The Sydney Morning Herald alone describes the charges as accusing Comey of directing an individual through co-conspirators to disclose information, while NBC News and The Globe and Mail describe the disclosure as Comey directing staff or sharing information with a reporter.

NBC NewsThe Sydney Morning HeraldThe Globe and Mail

Written by AI from these outlets' articles: facts they report, claims attributed, numbers checked against the sources. It may still contain errors; read the originals.