WASHINGTON (October 26, 2023) – Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two charges related to the handling of confidential FBI facts, the Justice Department announced today. The charges stem from Comey’s actions following his dismissal from the FBI in 2017.
The indictment alleges that Comey improperly disclosed unclassified memos detailing conversations with then-President Donald Trump to a private individual with the intention of prompting a media leak. This occurred after Comey was fired amidst the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The case resurfaces long-standing scrutiny of the Trump-Russia probe and raises questions about the handling of sensitive government information by high-ranking officials.
According to the Justice department, the charges relate to Comey authorizing a friend to share the contents of a memo documenting a request from President Trump to halt the FBI’s investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Trump and his allies later labeled Comey a leaker, with the president at one point accusing him of treason. Comey has publicly characterized Trump as “ego driven” and likened his behavior to that of a mafia boss.
This growth follows years of reviews and investigations into the FBI’s conduct during the Trump-Russia investigation, including an inspector general review of Comey’s handling of the memos and a special counsel investigation led by John Durham. Neither review resulted in charges against comey.
The indictment also arrives amid recent actions involving Comey’s family. Earlier this year, his daughter, Maurene Comey, was fired from her position as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and has as filed a lawsuit alleging the termination was politically motivated. Additionally, Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned as a federal prosecutor shortly after the indictment was announced, stating he did so “to uphold my oath to the Constitution and the country.”
The Justice Department has not specified potential penalties for Comey if convicted.The case is expected to be closely watched, given the political sensitivities surrounding the Trump-Russia investigation and the high profile of the defendant.