Trump admin may have already broken the law by leaking Comey indictment plans: expert

MSNBC reported on Wednesday that at some point in the coming days former FBI Director James Comey will likely be indicted. As national security expert Marcy Wheeler pointed out on Bluesky, however, leaking that information could be illegal.

"It seems to me that leaking, 'Jim Comey will be indicted,' before he is indicted, is a 6(e) violation," Wheeler wrote on Bluesky.

"Not that I want MSNBC's sources harassed. But add it to the list of things Comey can complain about, if this actually does get indicted," she added.

Rule 6(e) in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure makes all grand jury information confidential and secret. It is illegal for government agencies or grand jurors to release such information, the Department of Justice website says.

A witness who testified could leak information legally, however.

MSNBC cited "three people familiar with the matter" in its report.