A federal judge on Monday (Nov. 24) dismissed the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, calling into question the legality of a prosecution aggressively pursued by President Donald Trump. The judge also dropped a parallel indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James, another high-profile Trump critic.
Both cases were filed by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal representative who was named interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in September.
The appointment of a public prosecutor was illegal
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie concluded that Halligan’s appointment by the Justice Department violated federal law, making the prosecution void. The ruling noted that Halligan had been installed “hastily and without proper authority,” making her actions as prosecutor legally void.
The judge said the illegal appointment undermined the integrity of the cases, which were launched at Trump’s insistence.
Comey and James took aim after clashing with Trump
Comey, who led the FBI during the early stages of the Russia investigation, has long been one of Trump’s most frequent political targets. Letitia James has repeatedly clashed with Trump, including leading civil and criminal investigations into his business practices.
Trump has publicly called for the indictment of both officials and pressured senior Justice Department officials to act. Monday’s ruling effectively nullifies those efforts.
Failure for Trump’s attempts to go after opponents
Currie’s decisions represent a startling critique of the Trump administration’s strategy of pursuing political opponents through the Justice Department. The judge said Halligan’s installation was part of a pattern in which Trump loyalists were placed in key legal positions without proper vetting or authority.
The orders make Halligan the latest Trump-appointed prosecutor to be disqualified because of how they were appointed.
Implications for DOJ leadership
The firings raise new questions about the Justice Department’s compliance with federal appointment rules during Trump’s presidency. They also underscore growing judicial scrutiny of politically motivated cases brought by improperly appointed officials.
