Former FBI Director Comey Charged by DOJ for Third Time
Is Comey’s prosecution overdue accountability for classified leaks or political retaliation that undermines equal justice?
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Above: Former FBI Director James Comey interviewed by Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" in Washington, D.C., May 17. Image credit: Shannon Finney/NBC/Getty Images
The Facts
- The Justice Department charged former FBI Director James Comey with transmitting national defense information and conspiracy, according to a charging document made public Monday, the third criminal case the department has brought against him.
- U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, granted a request to unseal the case Monday — it had been under seal since Oct. 5. Comey has not been indicted, and prosecutors have not said when they might seek a grand jury indictment.
- Prosecutors allege Comey directed staff to speak with New York Times reporter Charlie Savage about accuracy concerns with a Reuters story, illegally transferring classified information tied to an Oct. 5, 2016, article on Yahoo email surveillance.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Left narrative
A third prosecution after previous reviews declined charges reeks of political retaliation. A last-minute filing without a grand jury compounds the concern and strains basic fairness. Criminal law loses legitimacy when presidential hostility appears to drive selective cases.
Right narrative
National security rules mean little if senior officials can leak classified material under the banner of correcting the press. Comey’s former rank warrants greater accountability, not special immunity. Procedural maneuvering should not eclipse the core principle: sensitive intelligence belongs outside political media games.
