SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA — Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida as part of an investigation into earlier probes of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The investigation is led by Jason A. Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and focuses on the original investigation into Russian election interference and other prosecutions related to President Donald Trump.

More than 130 subpoenas have been issued in connection with the investigation. Trump allies have dubbed it a grand conspiracy probe and have argued that officials they believe were part of a conspiracy took steps furthering the conspiracy within the five-year statute of limitations to justify the investigation into actions from a decade ago.

Attorney General Pam Bondi directed Justice Department prosecutors to investigate actions surrounding the 2016 presidential election. Federal prosecutors have wide discretion when issuing subpoenas, which can seek either records or testimony. Federal grand jury subpoenas are typically issued by federal prosecutors without judicial oversight or direct involvement of federal grand jurors.

Trump and his supporters have alleged that law enforcement officials investigated the president's aides for potential collusion with Russia in the 2016 election and that intelligence officials overstated Moscow's interference to damage Trump's first term. Trump allies have specifically targeted former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey over allegations related to the 2016 election interference.

The Trump administration previously attempted to prosecute James Comey over testimony he gave to Congress. The case against Comey was dismissed in November when a judge ruled that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed to her Justice Department post. When dismissing the case against Comey, a federal judge described Lindsey Halligan as a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience.

Several investigations have found evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. A 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee review, which Marco Rubio signed off on as co-chair, found evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe found that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to disadvantage Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Mueller's probe did not find evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Special Counsel John Durham found no evidence that Obama administration officials carried out a criminal conspiracy to fabricate intelligence about Russia's actions.