--- title: "Grand jury subpoenas James Comey adviser Daniel Richman in leak probe" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-31T18:25:19.474Z" source_reported: "2026-08-31T17:25:47.000Z" updated: "2026-08-31T19:30:15.646Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T19:30:14.852851+00:00" --- # Grand jury subpoenas James Comey adviser Daniel Richman in leak probe *A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Daniel Richman, a friend of former FBI Director James Comey, in a renewed investigation into alleged improper sharing of sensitive information.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to CNN and Fox News, with one named source. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, with some context provided. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use 'BREAKING' and 'Major Courtroom Development' which is mild sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Daniel Richman, a friend and adviser to former FBI Director James Comey. - The subpoena is part of a renewed probe into allegations that Comey improperly shared sensitive information with the media. - The suspected leak involved memos Comey wrote about his meetings with President Donald Trump. - Prosecutors had previously investigated this matter during Donald Trump's first term and declined to bring charges. A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Daniel Richman, a friend and adviser to former FBI Director James Comey. The subpoena is part of a renewed investigation into allegations that Comey improperly shared sensitive information with the media. The suspected leak involves memos Comey wrote about his meetings with President Donald Trump. Prosecutors had previously examined this matter during Donald Trump's first term but declined to bring charges. ## Disagreement on classification Daniel Richman stated that the substance of the memo he shared was not marked classified and to his knowledge remains unclassified. CNN reported this statement from Richman. The Gateway Pundit described the memos as 'classified Trump memos' and stated Richman then leaked their contents to The New York Times. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention that Daniel Richman stated the substance of the memo he shared was not marked classified and to his knowledge remains unclassified. None of the centre-rated reports mention that James Comey is also facing charges that he threatened Trump with a social media post or that he was previously facing charges for allegedly making false statements to Congress, which were thrown out by a judge. ## Who covered it Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (3) - Centre: 33% (8) - Right: 54% (13) 2 of 26 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T19:30:14.852851+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T19:45:17.926Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The two left-rated reports led with the subpoena of Daniel Richman, a friend and adviser to former FBI Director James Comey, in a renewed probe into alleged leaks of classified information to the media. Raw Story framed the action as a "new swipe at former FBI Director James Comey" by "President Donald Trump’s Justice Department" in a "major revenge case." ### Centre - The centre-rated outlets reported that a federal grand jury had subpoenaed Daniel Richman, a friend and adviser to James Comey. This action is part of a renewed investigation into whether Comey improperly shared sensitive information with the media. - The reports stated the suspected leak involved memos Comey wrote about his meetings with President Donald Trump. This matter had been examined previously, but prosecutors had declined to bring charges at that time. - One report noted Richman acknowledged in 2017 that he had provided a reporter with the contents of a memo. He stated the substance of the memo was not marked classified and remained unclassified to his knowledge. ### Right - The seven right-rated reports focused on the subpoena of Daniel Richman, described as James Comey's "mole" or "pal," in a renewed investigation into alleged leaks of classified information. The Gateway Pundit stated that after James Comey was fired by President Trump, he gave contents of his classified 'Trump memos' to Richman, who then leaked them to The New York Times. Conservative Brief used the headline "Major Courtroom Development in James Comey's Case." Several right-rated reports, including Fox News, Just the News, and wfmd.com, cited "sources" and stated that a federal grand jury issued a subpoena to Comey's adviser as part of a new Justice Department investigation into allegedly leaking classified information. Just the News noted that President Donald Trump had investigated the allegations during his first term, which was cut off when Joe Biden took office. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 2 - low: 4 - mixed: 6 - high: 10 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Last Refuge](https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/08/31/report-grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-advisor-daniel-richman) — REPORT: Grand Jury Subpoenas James Comey Advisor Daniel Richman - [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/08/31/doj-reopens-comey-leak-trail-and-a-federal-grand-jury-just-subpoenaed-his-longtime-friend) — DOJ reopens Comey leak trail — and a federal grand jury just subpoenaed his longtime friend - The Daily Bo Snerdley - [News Facts Network](https://newsfactsnetwork.com/news/doj-subpoenas-comey-adviser-in-renewed-leak-investigation) — DOJ Subpoenas Comey Adviser in Renewed Leak Investigation - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/08/31/2555362.html) — A federal grand jury on Monday subpoenaed Daniel Richman, James Comey’s longtime friend and former adviser, as part of a new DOJ investigation into allegations that Comey leaked classified information to The New York Times - [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/08/31/7182423/federal-grand-jury-subpoenas-daniel-richman-in-renewed-investigation-of) — Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas Daniel Richman in Renewed Investigation of Comey Media Leaks - [Politics, Policy, Political News](https://politicom.com.au/breaking-comey-media-mole-daniel-richman-issued-new-federal-grand-jury-subpoena-in-classified-leak-investigation) — BREAKING: Comey Media Mole Daniel Richman Issued New Federal Grand Jury Subpoena in Classified Leak Investigation - Politics, Policy, Political Views - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/56596f0e24202352) — Grand Jury Subpoenas James Comey’s Friend In Leak Probe - [tippinsights](https://tippinsights.com/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comeys-friend-in-leak-probe) — Grand Jury Subpoenas James Comey’s Friend In Leak Probe - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/breaking-comey-media-mole-daniel-richman-issued-new) — BREAKING: Comey Media Mole Daniel Richman Issued New Federal Grand Jury Subpoena in Classified Leak Investigation * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila - [American Greatness](https://amgreatness.com/2026/08/31/report-federal-grand-jury-issues-subpoena-to-comey-pal-daniel-richman-in-revived-leak-investigation) — Report: Federal Grand Jury Issues Subpoena to Comey Pal Daniel Richman in Revived Leak Investigation › American Greatness - [Conservative Brief](https://conservativebrief.com/federal-grand-jury-comey-104091) — Major Courtroom Development in James Comey's Case - [CNN](https://cnn.com/2026/08/31/politics/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KIFI](https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KRDO](https://krdo.com/news/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KVIA](https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KMIZ](https://abc17news.com/politics/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KEYT](https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [KESQ](https://kesq.com/news/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [kioncentralcoast.com](https://kioncentralcoast.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/08/31/longtime-friend-to-trump-foe-james-comey-subpoenaed-in-new-leak-investigation) — Longtime friend to Trump foe James Comey subpoenaed in new leak investigation - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/news/new-trump-doj-issues-fresh-subpoena-in-james-comey-investigation) — NEW: Trump DOJ Issues Fresh Subpoena In James Comey Investigation - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/trump-comey-2677798832) — Trump leak hunt leaps forward with revived grand jury action in major revenge case - [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/new-federal-grand-jury-subpoena-issued-to-former-james-comey-advisor-in-leak-investigation-sources) — New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources – Democratic Accent - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/08/31/new-federal-grand-jury-subpoena-issued-to-former-james-comey-advisor-in-leak-investigation-sources) — New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/new-federal-grand-jury-subpoena-issued-former-james-comey-advisor-leak-investigation-sources) — New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources - [RedState](https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/08/31/final-reckoning-former-comey-advisor-subpoenaed-in-leak-investigation-n2206299) — Final Reckoning? Former Comey Advisor Subpoenaed in Leak Investigation - [Just the News](https://justthenews.com/nation/crime/federal-grand-jury-issues-subpoena-former-james-comey-advisor-leak-investigation) — Federal grand jury issues subpoena to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: report ## Questions **Who has been subpoenaed in the renewed leak probe?** Daniel Richman, a longtime friend and adviser to former FBI Director James Comey, has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury. This action is part of a renewed investigation into allegations that Comey improperly shared sensitive information with the media. **What is the renewed investigation about?** The investigation centres on memos that James Comey wrote about his meetings with President Donald Trump. Prosecutors are examining whether Comey improperly shared sensitive information from these memos with the media. This matter was previously investigated during Trump's first term, but no charges were filed. **What has Daniel Richman said about the memo he shared?** Daniel Richman has stated that the substance of the memo he shared was not marked classified and, to his knowledge, remains unclassified. This statement was reported by CNN and the centre-rated outlets. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Grand jury subpoenas James Comey adviser Daniel Richman in leak probe", https://mediabias.news/politics/grand-jury-subpoenas-james-comey-adviser-daniel-richman-in-leak-probe