A Federal Judge Deals a Major Blow to Trump's Prosecution of James Comey, Ruling Lindsey Halligan's Assignment Unlawful.
In a stunning move, US District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie has dismissed the government's case against former FBI Director James Comey after determining that Interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, was "unlawfully appointed" by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The court ruled that Halligan lacked lawful authority to bring charges against Comey.
In her written ruling, Judge Currie expressed outrage at the prospect of a single individual - in this case, a private citizen without legal training or expertise - being unilaterally authorized by the attorney general to secure an indictment via grand jury proceedings. "That cannot be the law," she wrote. This finding was echoed by several other judges who had previously criticized Halligan's handling of the case.
Halligan's appointment was widely seen as a politically motivated attempt to prosecute Comey, with some critics likening it to a "prosecutorial overreach" that undermined the rule of law. The judge's ruling has significant implications for the Trump administration and its efforts to target former officials through aggressive prosecution tactics.
The dismissal of the case does not necessarily mean an end to the controversy surrounding Comey's indictment; however, it does leave open the possibility that the government may file the case again within six months. As yet, uncertainty surrounds who will take up the mantle of prosecuting Comey and whether they will be able to overcome the objections raised by Judge Currie.
In a stunning move, US District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie has dismissed the government's case against former FBI Director James Comey after determining that Interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, was "unlawfully appointed" by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The court ruled that Halligan lacked lawful authority to bring charges against Comey.
In her written ruling, Judge Currie expressed outrage at the prospect of a single individual - in this case, a private citizen without legal training or expertise - being unilaterally authorized by the attorney general to secure an indictment via grand jury proceedings. "That cannot be the law," she wrote. This finding was echoed by several other judges who had previously criticized Halligan's handling of the case.
Halligan's appointment was widely seen as a politically motivated attempt to prosecute Comey, with some critics likening it to a "prosecutorial overreach" that undermined the rule of law. The judge's ruling has significant implications for the Trump administration and its efforts to target former officials through aggressive prosecution tactics.
The dismissal of the case does not necessarily mean an end to the controversy surrounding Comey's indictment; however, it does leave open the possibility that the government may file the case again within six months. As yet, uncertainty surrounds who will take up the mantle of prosecuting Comey and whether they will be able to overcome the objections raised by Judge Currie.