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Justice Department Charges James Comey With Two Espionage Act Counts

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 22:06 UTC · How we work

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Summary

The U.S. Justice Department filed a criminal information charging FBI Director James Comey with two Espionage Act violations.
Prosecutors allege Comey leaked national-defense information to an unauthorized person on Oct. 5, 2016.
The unauthorized recipient passed the material to The New York Times.
The filing was recorded on Oct. 5, 2026 to toll the statute of limitations.
Comey’s lawyers moved to dismiss, arguing the filing cannot replace a grand-jury indictment.

History

In 1971 the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s attempt to block the New York Times and Washington Post from publishing the 7,000-page Pentagon Papers, affirming that prior restraint violates the First Amendment. The 2026 indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for alleged 2016 Espionage Act leaks echoes that longstanding clash between government secrecy and press freedom.

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Historical Context

In 1971 the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s attempt to block the New York Times and Washington Post from publishing the 7,000-page Pentagon Papers, affirming that prior restraint violates the First Amendment. The 2026 indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for alleged 2016 Espionage Act leaks echoes that longstanding clash between government secrecy and press freedom.

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