A U.S. federal judge has dismissed the case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutor overseeing their indictments was unlawfully appointed. This decision followed a ruling that the installation of President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote that actions stemming from Halligan’s flawed appointment, including the indictment of Comey, must be set aside.
Both Comey and James expressed relief at the decision, with Comey calling the case a ‘prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence.’ James said she was ‘heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support.’ Trump has long accused both Comey and James of participating in what he described as a politically motivated ‘witch hunt.’ He argued that Comey spearheaded the ‘Russiagate hoax,’ while James unfairly prosecuted the Trump Organization for fraud.
In September, a federal grand jury indicted Comey for making false statements during a 2020 Senate hearing regarding the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, which Trump won. Although the investigation later found no collusion between Trump and Russia, Comey defended the probe as ‘appropriate and essential.’ In October, a federal grand jury indicted James for mortgage fraud.
According to CNN, the ruling could allow the same charges to be brought against Comey and James in the future. The White House stated that the facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed and that this will not be the final word on the matter. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended Halligan, stating that she was ‘legally appointed,’ while Attorney General Pam Bondi described her as ‘an excellent lawyer.’ This case highlights the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding Trump’s tenure as president and the investigations into his administration.