A federal judge has criticized the U.S. Justice Department for its ‘indict first, investigate later’ approach during a hearing concerning former FBI Director James Comey. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick of the Eastern District of Virginia expressed concerns over the DOJ’s handling of data obtained from search warrants between 2019 and 2020, which is now central to Comey’s legal proceedings. During the hearing, Fitzpatrick questioned prosecutors about their potential access to information protected by attorney-client privilege and noted that the volume of documents in the case has placed Comey’s defense team at a significant disadvantage.
The DOJ has rejected claims that President Donald Trump’s social media posts, which urged the prosecution of Comey and other political figures, influenced the decision to charge Comey. In a 48-page filing, prosecutors argued that while these posts reflect Trump’s view that Comey committed crimes, they do not constitute direct evidence of a vindictive motive. ‘These posts reflect the President’s view that the defendant has committed crimes that should be met with prosecution. They may even suggest that the President disfavors the defendant. But they are not direct evidence of a vindictive motive,’ prosecutors stated. ‘The defendant spins a tale that requires leaps of logic and a big dose of cynicism, then he calls the President’s post a direct admission,’ they continued. ‘There is no direct admission of discriminatory purpose. To the contrary, the only direct admission from the President is that DOJ officials decided whether to prosecute, not him.’
Comey’s defense team has sought to have his case dismissed, arguing he is a victim of selective prosecution by Trump. This ongoing legal battle underscores broader tensions between law enforcement and executive power, raising questions about the integrity of the judicial process and the role of political influence in federal investigations. The case remains a focal point for debates on the balance between justice and political accountability in the U.S. legal system.