Former FBI Director James Comey faces new set of federal charges

(NBC, KYMA) - Former FBI Director James Comey is facing a new set of federal charges for allegedly leaking classified information.

This is the third case in little more than a year the DOJ has brought against Comey, a longtime target of President Donald trump.

It goes back to 2016 when prosecutors allege Comey directed his staff to share classified information with the New York Times in an effort to correct misinformation written in a previous Reuters article.

The DOJ is charging Comey with transmission of national defense information and conspiracy to transmit national defense information.

The charges are classified as criminal information, meaning comey has not yet been indicted.

Comey's defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges, and the former FBI Director released a video statement responding to the case:

"Well, they're back again. It would almost be funny if it weren't such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice, one that we cannot become numb to. Nothing's changed with me. I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. And I'm still lucky to have an amazing family and an incredible group of lawyers, and we'll stand up in court and fight the latest and whatever comes after this. The next couple years are going to be hard for all of us. It's really important that we stand straight and keep the faith in America."

The judge in the case will hear Comey's motion to dismiss the two charges against him at a hearing Friday.