A U.S. federal judge has dismissed the case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, citing the invalid appointment of prosecutors. In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie stated that the installation of Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former lawyer, as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was unlawful. This invalidation means the indictment against Comey is considered unlawful, leading to the case’s dismissal. Comey and James both expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, with Comey describing the case as a politically-motivated prosecution based on ‘malevolence and incompetence.’ James called the victory ‘heartening’ and thanked supporters for their prayers and support.
Trump has consistently accused both Comey and James of participating in a ‘witch hunt,’ with the former being blamed for spearheading the ‘Russiagate hoax’ and the latter for unfairly prosecuting 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 concluded 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.
CNN reported that the ruling could allow the same charges against Comey and James to be brought in the future. The White House has stated the facts of the indictments have not changed, and this dismissal will not be the final word on the matter. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended Halligan’s appointment, calling it legal, while Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Halligan as an ‘excellent lawyer.’ The case highlights the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding the Trump administration and the scrutiny it has faced from law enforcement and legal authorities.