A US federal judge has dismissed the case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutor overseeing the indictments was unlawfully appointed. The judge, Cameron McGowan Currie, stated that the installation of Lindsey Halligan as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid, leading to the dismissal of the indictments. Both Comey and James expressed relief at the decision.
The ruling comes amid ongoing political tensions, with former President Donald Trump accusing both individuals of participating in a politically motivated “witch hunt.” The dismissals have significant implications for future legal proceedings, as the White House maintains that the facts of the indictments have not changed.
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.”