DOJ takes steps to charge James Comey again

Federal prosecutors have moved to bring a third criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, this time alleging two Espionage Act violations tied to the passing of national defense information. Rather than seeking a grand jury indictment, they filed a document called a criminal information under seal in early October. A Justice Department spokesperson said the step was meant to preserve the statute of limitations before it runs out, and that the investigation continues, according to CBS News.

The allegations center on a New York Times story from October 5, 2016, about Yahoo and email surveillance. Prosecutors say Comey wanted to correct a Reuters report from the previous day and told staff to talk to the Times reporter. Comey's attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said earlier investigators had looked at the matter twice during the first Trump administration and brought no charges.

Legal experts told CBS News the tactic is highly unusual. Former Justice Department inspector general Michael Bromwich, now a defense attorney, called it an end-run around the deadline. Comey's lawyers contend that the time limit covers indictments only. Judge Trevor McFadden unsealed the papers Monday, and the government has agreed to wait 30 days before pursuing an indictment.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →