Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey argued before a federal judge on Friday that the Justice Department should not be allowed to pursue a third criminal case against him, according to a report by The Hill.

According to The Hill, the defense argued that the Justice Department waited too long to bring the charges and asked that the prosecution be stopped on that basis. The charges allegedly involve disclosing national defense information, the outlet reported.

The Hill identified the judge as U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, an appointee of President Trump, and reported that he is weighing the request. The Hill's report did not describe a ruling from the judge.

In advance of the hearing, The Guardian reported that Comey's lawyers would ask a federal judge on Friday to block the Justice Department from pursuing its third criminal case against him. The Guardian described the matter as a leak case that had been investigated twice before with no action taken.

The two accounts differ in some details. The Guardian referred only to a federal judge, while The Hill named the judge. The Guardian called the matter a leak case, while The Hill described it as one involving allegedly disclosed national defense information. The Guardian and The Hill both placed the arguments on Friday.

The Guardian also reported that Comey is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and that the two have been in an open feud since Trump fired Comey from his post as FBI director.

Sources: The Guardian: James Comey lawyers seek to have third criminal case dismissed; The Hill: Comey lawyers fight for dismissal of third criminal prosecution.