A 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 illegally appointed. The court found that Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former lawyer appointed as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was improperly placed, invalidating the actions taken under her authority. Both Comey and James expressed relief at the ruling, which they view as a rejection of politically motivated charges.
Trump has long accused both individuals of participating in a politically motivated ‘witch hunt,’ framing Comey as a central figure in the ‘Russiagate hoax’ and James as unfairly prosecuting the Trump Organization for fraud. The dismissal opens the door for future charges against Comey and James, as noted by the White House, which maintains that the facts of the indictments have not changed. Legal experts are now assessing the implications of the ruling, which could affect the validity of past and future prosecutions under similar circumstances.
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.’