Justice Department files new charges against former FBI Director James Comey over a 2016 leak of national defense information
The Justice Department filed a criminal information in Washington on Oct. 5, 2026, charging James Comey with transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defense information related to an October 2016 New York Times article. The filing was unsealed Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, and prosecutors said it was intended to toll the 10-year statute of limitations. Comey's lawyers moved to dismiss the case as time-barred and invalid, and Comey denied wrongdoing in a video statement.
18
Divergence score
17 outlets covered it, splitting into 17 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
17 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 17 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
AP News
Washington Times
Washington Examiner
Al Jazeera
PBS NewsHour
CNN
Axios
CBS News
Politico
Globe and Mail
Financial Times
The Hill
NBC News
NY Post
New York Times
Bloomberg
Reuters
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Washington Times
Justice Department charges former FBI Directory James Comey in new case
straight charging details with Comey denial · neutral
New York Times
Justice Dept. Brings More Charges Against Comey, Accusing Him of Leaks
previously investigated matter · negative
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- CNN+12 min
- Politico+1.1 h
- AP News+7.4 h
- Washington Times+7.4 h
- Financial Times+7.4 h
- New York Times+7.4 h
- The Hill+7.5 h
- NBC News+7.6 h
- NY Post+7.6 h
- CBS News+7.6 h
- Washington Examiner+7.7 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
Headlines that changed · the same article, re-listed with a new headline
Washington Examiner · 2026-10-26 22:49 UTC
James Comey charged with allegedly leaking national defense information
The split, in one line
Most outlets lead with the third prosecution of a Trump critic and Comey's "appalling abuse" rebuttal; a few stress the Espionage Act counts and the tolling maneuver as routine procedure.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
18LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Justice Department charges former FBI Directory James Comey in new case”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Ex-FBI director Comey charged again by US Justice Department, NBC News reports” · AP News, Al Jazeera, PBS NewsHour, Axios, Politico, Globe and Mail, The Hill, Bloomberg, Reuters
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 17 outlets put it
LEFT2
CNNCNN Justice Department charges former FBI Director James Comey for third time 8h ago TNew York Times Justice Dept. Brings More Charges Against Comey, Accusing Him of Leaks 1h ago LEFT-CENTER2
CBSCBS News DOJ takes steps to charge James Comey again 1h ago NBCNBC News James Comey faces two new federal charges 1h ago CENTER7
APAP News Trump administration attempting to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey again - AP News 1h ago PBSPBS NewsHour Trump administration charges former FBI Director James Comey for the third time - PBS 1h ago AAxios James Comey charged again by the DOJ 1h ago PPolitico Justice Department charges James Comey with sharing classified information 8h ago HThe Hill DOJ charges Comey for third time 1h ago BLBloomberg DOJ Accuses Ex-FBI Director Comey of Sharing Defense Secrets 1h ago RReuters Ex-FBI director Comey charged again by US Justice Department, NBC News reports 9h ago RIGHT-CENTER1
FTFinancial Times US charges ex-FBI chief James Comey for third time - Financial Times 1h ago 6 tracked claims across 17 outlets
Fact ledger
All6Claimed2Corroborated4
3/17
Claimed
Comey was previously investigated over the same 2016 disclosure twice, and both times the government declined to bring charges
Corroborated
Disputed
5 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger