Judge throws out case against ‘Russiagate’ ex-FBI chief

The court dismissed the indictment against James Comey, who US President Donald Trump accused of taking part in a “witch hunt”

A US federal judge dismissed the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday, ruling that the prosecutor overseeing the indictments was unlawfully appointed.

Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote in her order that the installation of President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, as interim attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia is invalid.

“All actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside,” she wrote.

“I’m grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence,” Comey said in a statement. James said she was “heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support.”

Trump has long accused both Comey and James of taking part in what he described as a politically motivated “witch hunt.” He argued that Comey spearheaded the “Russiagate hoax,” while James unfairly prosecuted the Trump Organization for fraud. 

Read more

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.”