Federal judge tosses Comey, James cases

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Just weeks after the Department of Justice announced criminal indictments against two of President Donald Trump’s most prominent critics, the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James have been thrown out.

Monday, a federal district court judge dismissed charges against Comey and James. In both cases, the judge ruling that the prosecutor overseeing both cases, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed to her position. As a result, the judge ruled, the indictments that Halligan obtained against them must be dismissed.

But U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie also ruled that the Justice Department could still seek to indict Comey and James again under a lawfully appointed prosecutor.

Comey was charged in September with lying to Congress at a 2020 hearing, days before the five-year statute of limitations was set to expire. James was indicted last month on federal charges of bank fraud.

Comey’s lawyers argue that there are additional problems with the Comey indictment including irregularities in the grand jury process. Both Comey and James also say that the cases against each of them are the result of “selective and vindictive” prosecutions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, the rulings will be appealed.