Ex-FBI chief James Comey faces federal charges for third time

Federal prosecutors have taken steps to charge ex-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey with leaking national defence information, according to a court filing.

Comey denied any wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack on Monday, calling the charges an "appalling abuse".

"Nothing's changed with me - I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid of these people and I still believe the independent federal judiciary."

Comey was charged in Washington DC through a criminal information, which is a formal written charging document filed directly by a prosecutor.

This is different to a criminal indictment, which must be approved by a grand jury, a group of citizens sworn in to review if evidence is strong enough to prosecute.

Comey's lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said in a statement that two different teams of prosecutors had investigated the alleged disclosure to the New York Times a decade ago during the first Trump administration.

"Both times the Government determined that no charges should be brought against anyone," he said.

The attorney said the court filing "purports to charge Mr Comey with crimes that he did not commit".

Kaynak: BBC News World RSS (Açık Basın / Haber Servisi)