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. In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie declared the installation of Lindsey Halligan, the former lawyer of former President Donald Trump, as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia to be invalid, thus nullifying the indictment against these two officials.
Comey and James, both of whom had faced accusations from Trump of being part of a politically motivated ‘witch hunt,’ expressed relief at the outcome of the case. Comey stated in a statement that he was grateful that the court ended the case against him, which he described as a prosecution based on ‘malevolence and incompetence.’ James similarly called the ruling a ‘victory’ and expressed gratitude for the ‘prayers and support’ of those who backed her.
Trump has long accused Comey and James of being part of a politically motivated investigation. He claimed that Comey led a ‘Russiagate hoax,’ which was part of a broader probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which he won. He also alleged that James unfairly prosecuted the Trump Organization for fraud. The ongoing legal battle has drawn significant attention, with the White House and Trump’s legal team maintaining their stance that the indictments are valid.
In addition to the case against Comey, a federal grand jury indicted James for mortgage fraud in October. The ruling by the judge has allowed for the possibility of re-prosecuting both individuals if the case can be brought before a different prosecutor. The White House has stated that the facts of the indictments against Comey and James have not changed, and that this will not be the final word on the matter. However, the judge’s decision has provided a significant legal hurdle that the White House must overcome if they wish to pursue the case further.