Comey's lawyers seek to block new Justice Department prosecution

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 20:50 · Archive

Lawyers for ex-FBI Director James Comey will ask a federal judge to stop a new criminal case brought by the Justice Department.

Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey will ask a federal judge on Friday to block the Justice Department from pursuing a criminal case against him. Court documents unsealed Monday showed the Trump administration this month bypassed a grand jury and filed charges known as a 'criminal information' over allegations of a decade-old and previously investigated news media leak. Comey's lawyers have called the case legally invalid, arguing the Justice Department used the maneuver to extend the legal time limit for seeking a grand jury indictment. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, was expected to hear arguments on Friday.

Comey, who says he is innocent, has been the subject of multiple prosecutions. A first criminal case filed in Virginia accused him of lying to Congress in 2020 but was dismissed by a judge who concluded the prosecutor was illegally appointed. Comey was fired by Trump in May 2017 while overseeing an investigation into whether Trump's 2016 presidential campaign conspired with Russia. The two men have been publicly at odds since, with Comey comparing Trump to a corrupt mafia don in a book and Trump accusing him of treason.

How it is being reported

• Judge puts off decision in Comey case as Justice Department seeks new indictment against ex-FBI headPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 30 Oct, 20:36
• Lawyers for ex-FBI Director James Comey will ask a judge to block Justice Department prosecutionWASHINGTON — Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey will ask a federal judge on Friday to block the Justice Department from pursuing its third criminal case against the outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and frequent target of Republican outrage.TribLIVE · 30 Oct, 12:37

In this story: James Comey · Donald Trump · Justice Department · FBI · Trevor McFadden

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