The Justice Department's criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey

Active · last development Sep 25, 2026: “James Comey seashells case delayed until early 2027”

What this arc covers

The federal pursuit of former FBI Director James Comey: the Secret Service questioning in May 2025 over his '8647' seashell post, the FBI's criminal investigation of him and John Brennan, his September 2025 indictment on charges of lying to Congress after Trump called for his prosecution and the resignation of his son-in-law, a federal prosecutor, his not-guilty plea and the judge's rebukes of prosecutors, the November 2025 dismissal of the charges against him and Letitia James because the prosecutor was unlawfully appointed, his second indictment in April 2026 over the seashell post, and the subpoenas in related inquiries.

Photo from PJ Media, with James Comey seashells case delayed until early 2027 (Sep 25, 2026), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold May 16, 2025 · 30 stories · 162 independent sources (counted once each) · 497 days

Part ofJames ComeyFederal Bureau of InvestigationDonald TrumpUnited States Department of JusticeRussiaLetitia JamesUnited States Secret ServiceJohn Owen Brennan

Part of James Comey

  1. The Justice Department's criminal cases against former FBI Director James ComeyThis arcMay 16, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
  2. The firing of Maurene Comey, a prosecutor on the Epstein cases, and her lawsuitJul 16 – Dec 2, 2025

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 25– 262026James Comey seashells case delayed until early 20275 articles · 5 independent sources
2 left, 1 center, 2 right
Aug 31– Sep 12026Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation15 articles · 14 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 5 right
Aug 192026Justice Department attempts to distance Attorney General Todd Blanche from Comey’s ‘8647’ seashell threat indictment7 articles · 7 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. May 16, 2025Ex-FBI Director James Comey under investigation for post seen as a potential threat to Trump's life48 articles · 35 independent sources
  2. Sep 24 – 27, 2025Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction174 articles · 77 independent sources
    1. Sep 26, 2025Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted after Trump pushes for prosecution of longtime foe
    2. Sep 27, 2025The sparse indictment of Comey by Trump's Justice Department belies a complicated backstory
  3. Oct 8, 2025Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress46 articles · 30 independent sources
  4. Oct 8, 2025Ex-FBI Director James Comey to be arraigned after Trump called for his prosecution31 articles · 22 independent sources
  5. Nov 24 – 25, 2025Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed106 articles · 70 independent sources
  6. Apr 28 – 29, 2026Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again in probe over online post officials call a Trump threat102 articles · 47 independent sources
  7. Jul 27 – 30, 2026Investigators in Comey seashells case omitted key facts and distorted others, defense lawyers allege73 articles · 44 independent sources
    1. Jul 27, 2026Comey says seashells post was political speech - not a threat - as he presses to dismiss charges
    2. Jul 29, 2026Investigators in James Comey seashells case omitted key facts, defense lawyers allege
    3. Jul 29, 2026Only center coverage:Comey seeks to toss seashell '86' case, accusing Trump, DOJ of vindictive prosecution
    4. Jul 29, 2026New Secret Service emails reveal how case was built against James Comey

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

May 2025Aug 2025Nov 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
May 12, 20257141064
May 19, 20251115
Jul 7, 202531818
Sep 22, 2025163022213
Oct 6, 20255231385
Oct 20, 2025111421
Nov 3, 20250218
Nov 10, 202525316
Nov 17, 2025617662
Nov 24, 202592215100
Dec 1, 20252228
Mar 16, 202613623
Apr 27, 202610161396
Jul 27, 2026411579
Aug 17, 202625124
Aug 31, 202611515
Sep 21, 20262125

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

22% left · 58% center · 20% right of 162 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 30 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. May 2025

    May 16– 17Secret Service agents question Comey about his Trump social media post19 articles · 14 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 5 right
  2. May 16Ex-FBI Director James Comey under investigation for post seen as a potential threat to Trump's life48 articles · 35 independent sources
    6 left, 10 center, 7 right
  3. May 20Former FBI director James Comey calls controversy over Instagram post 'a bit of a distraction'5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right

  4. July 2025

    Jul 9FBI launches criminal investigations of John Brennan, James Comey: DOJ sources18 articles · 12 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 8 right

  5. September 2025

    Sep 24– 27Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction174 articles · 77 independent sources
    14 left, 27 center, 21 right
  6. Sep 24– 25Newly appointed US Attorney will attempt to charge James Comey: Sources22 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 2 right
  7. Sep 26Trump escalates retribution campaign with charges against Comey and threats against liberal groups11 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  8. Sep 26Comey’s son-in-law, a federal prosecutor, resigns after indictment8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 3 right
  9. Sep 26Trump says ‘there will be others’ prosecuted after Comey5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right

  10. October 2025

    Oct 8Ex-FBI Director James Comey to be arraigned after Trump called for his prosecution31 articles · 22 independent sources
    2 left, 11 center, 5 right
  11. Oct 8Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress46 articles · 30 independent sources
    3 left, 12 center, 8 right
  12. Oct 8Veteran defense lawyer turned judge oversees case against ex-FBI Director Comey11 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right

  14. November 2025

    Nov 5Judge in Comey case scolds prosecutors as he orders them to produce records from probe9 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  15. Nov 13Judge hears challenge to Trump's appointment of prosecutor in James Comey and Letitia James cases18 articles · 16 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 3 right
  16. Nov 17Judge says 'missteps' in James Comey case could result in charges against him being dismissed6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  17. Nov 17Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in Comey case - Boston News, Weather, Sports18 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 8 center, 0 right
  18. Nov 17– 19Justice Department admits grand jury did not review final Comey indictment21 articles · 17 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 2 right
  19. Nov 17Judge orders grand jury material to be given to Comey, citing "disturbing pattern" of DOJ missteps7 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 3 right
  20. Nov 19Former FBI Director James Comey seeks to have indictment dismissed due to vindictive prosecution14 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  21. Nov 24– 25Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed106 articles · 70 independent sources
    9 left, 22 center, 15 right

  22. December 2025

    Dec 7Judge deals setback to Justice Department effort to seek new indictment against Comey9 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 2 right

  23. March 2026

    Mar 19– 20James Comey subpoenaed over role in 2017 Russia intel assessment23 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 6 right

  24. April 2026

    Apr 28– 29Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again in probe over online post officials call a Trump threat102 articles · 47 independent sources
    10 left, 16 center, 13 right

  25. July 2026

    Jul 27– 30Investigators in Comey seashells case omitted key facts and distorted others, defense lawyers allege73 articles · 44 independent sources
    4 left, 11 center, 5 right
  26. Jul 27Former FBI Dir. James Comey defends his seashells post as he seeks to dismiss federal charges6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right

  27. August 2026

    Aug 19– 20'No serious dispute' that Comey's seashell post could be read as a Trump threat, prosecutors say19 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 1 right
  28. Aug 19Justice Department attempts to distance Attorney General Todd Blanche from Comey’s ‘8647’ seashell threat indictment7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  29. Aug 31– Sep 1Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation15 articles · 14 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 5 right

  30. September 2026

    Sep 25– 26James Comey seashells case delayed until early 20275 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 2 right