A federal judge has dismissed charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim U.S. Attorney was unlawful.
Comey and James have consistently argued that the indictments brought by the Trump-appointed Department of Justice were politically motivated. Comey faced charges in September for making false statements and obstruction of justice. These charges stemmed from statements he made to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020 regarding his handling of the DOJ’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server and alleged pro-Trump election interference by Russia.
President Donald Trump publicly called for Comey’s prosecution and appointed a new federal prosecutor to pursue the case. Despite the Justice Department’s lawyers maintaining that the charges were tied to congressional testimony rather than presidential influence, critics highlighted the apparent political undertones.
Following the dismissal, Letitia James expressed relief, stating, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country. I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”
Comey served as FBI Director from 2013 until his dismissal in 2017, four months into Trump’s presidency. His tenure included leading the controversial investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and investigating alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Comey’s handling of these matters drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, and his firing by Trump sparked widespread debate.
During his arraignment in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 8, Comey pleaded not guilty to the charges and declared in a video statement, “let’s go to trial.” The dismissal of the case underscores ongoing concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department during the Trump administration and marks a significant legal victory for both Comey and James.
