A US federal judge has dismissed the case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecution was based on an unlawfully appointed prosecutor. The court determined that Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former lawyer, was improperly installed as the interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, invalidating the indictment against Comey and James.
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote in her order that the installation of President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia is invalid. She emphasized that all actions stemming from Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Comey’s indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside.
Comey and James expressed relief at the court’s decision, with Comey calling it 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 taking part 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 about 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 makes it possible to bring the same charges against Comey and James in the future. The White House said following the verdict that ‘the facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed and this will not be the final word on this matter.’ White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Halligan ‘was legally appointed, and that’s the administration’s position.’ Attorney General Pam Bondi also defended Halligan, calling her ‘an excellent lawyer.’