A federal judge has officially dismissed the legal charges against James Comey, the former FBI Director, and Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York. This decision stems from the ruling that indicted prosecutor wasn’t lawfully appointed.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie stated, “I agree with Mr. Comey that the attempt to appoint Halligan as the Interim U.S. Attorney for Virginia was without basis. Since Ms. Halligan did not have the lawful authority to bring the indictment, I have no choice but to dismiss the case against Mr. Comey.” Currie also issued a separate verdict freeing James from charges.
The case hinged on the decision of Halligan, who was appointed by Trump’s administration, being the only one to present evidence and sign the indictments. This ruling not only dismissed the charges but also raised questions about prior criminal cases led by Halligan’s office.
Previously, many prosecutors had suggested against moving forward with charges against Comey and James, believing the evidence was lacking for a successful conviction, which adds further scrutiny to the case’s handling.
Back on September 20, after having fired Erik Siebert due to pressure not to pursue prosecutions against Comey and James, Trump appointed Halligan. However, upon appointment, immediate concerns arose regarding Halligan’s tenure, primarily that current regulations only allow interim U.S. attorneys 120 days in office unless confirmed by the Senate beforehand.
Furthermore, allegations from Comey and James’ legal teams framed this appointment dispute as exceeding the Attorney General’s intended authority, with a clear belief that a judicial selection process should have replaced Siebert. They asserted that altering this precedent would compromise the integrity established by Congress.
The Justice Department defended Halligan’s appointment, arguing clarity is needed since the position was vacant and her nomination was currently pending, thereby considered valid. Additionally, this case’s outcome tends to ripple through other prosecutions handled by Halligan’s office.
This hefty ruling signifies potential changes ahead for future cases, seeing previous arguments surrounding the interpretation of the 120-day rule leading to the disqualification of U.S. attorneys in both California and Nevada – actions currently being challenged by the Justice Department.
Trump’s immediate push, including a call on social media to expedite prosecutions against Comey and perceived political foes, only adds drama to an already tangled situation.
As the legal scenes continue to unfold for Comey and James, they remain not guilty amidst charges of falsifying statements while testifying before Congress, and allegations of bank fraud, respectively.
Stay tuned, as developments in this case may influence the legal landscape for many involved.
This article was initially published on NBCNews.com.
