The filing appeared to be an effort to construct a narrative that James B. Comey had leaked information to the news media without actually tying such assertions to the claims made in the indictment against him.

Former FBI Director James Comey faces federal charges as DOJ disputes his selective prosecution claims ahead of January 2026 trial date.

The Justice Department urged a federal judge Monday to reject James Comey’s claim that his prosecution amounts to political retribution, arguing the former FBI director has failed to show that he’s being targeted as punishment for his criticism of the Republican president. Prosecutors defended President Donald Trump’s September social media post demanding that action be taken in the Comey investigation, contending it reflects “legitimate prosecutorial motive” and is no basis to dismiss the indictment accusing Comey of lying to Congress in 2020. The filing underscores how Trump's comments have put the Justice Department in a difficult position as Comey and other defendants seize on the president's remarks in efforts to have their cases dismissed ahead of trial.

The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to reject James Comey’s claim that his prosecution amounts to political retribution.