Justice Department files third charge against James Comey

The Department of Justice filed a third federal charge against former FBI Director James Comey on Monday. The new criminal information accuses Comey of sharing sensitive national security information with a New York Times reporter in October 2016.

Prosecutors filed the document in Washington federal court on October 5 to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring. The 10-year deadline for the alleged offense was set to run out earlier this month. The filing unsealed the details of the case at the request of Comey's legal team.

The charge alleges that Comey transmitted and conspired to transmit national defense information. A Justice Department spokesperson described the move to halt the clock as a widely recognized practice in federal court. The department stated it is an ongoing criminal investigation and declined to provide further comment.

Comey responded to the news in an Instagram video. He said the Justice Department is back again and affirmed his innocence. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, released a statement arguing that the document purports to charge Comey with crimes he did not commit. Fitzgerald said the legal team has asked a judge to dismiss the case as legally improper.

This is the third prosecution against Comey. The Justice Department previously charged him with lying to Congress about media leaks and threatening President Donald Trump in a social media post. A judge dismissed the false statements case, while the threats case remains pending in court.