A federal judge in the US has dismissed the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. The decision is a significant setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to pursue figures it has accused of wrongdoing, including officials who investigated or publicly criticized Trump’s conduct.
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie found that Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor who secured the indictment against Comey, had no legal authority to bring the charges. Halligan was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, stepped down, reportedly due to pressure from the Trump administration to file charges against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Comey had been charged with making false statements and obstructing Congress, while James faced charges of bank fraud and lying to a financial institution. Both had pleaded not guilty, arguing that the prosecutions were vindictive and motivated by Trump’s animosity. The judge’s decision to dismiss the cases without prejudice allows the Justice Department to refile the charges with a properly appointed prosecutor.
