The Justice Department (DOJ) is stepping up its fight in a federal court, aiming to lift a temporary restraining order that’s currently preventing prosecutors from accessing important computer files seized from Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor and a known ally of James Comey, the former FBI director.
This court ruling is crucial, as it could stall or even totally derail the prosecution against Comey that’s making a resurgence after the previous case was tossed out.
In this latest turn of events, the DOJ has renewed its investigation into Comey, suggesting that Richman’s efforts to retrieve these files might be a strategic move to hinder Comey’s renewed investigation and possible prosecution. Earlier, Comey faced charges for allegedly lying to Congress, but those charges were dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly had ordered the return of these files and allowed Richman to examine them for any claims of privilege. However, she hasn’t lifted the restraining order just yet and has permitted further legal filings to take place.
The judiciary still has to weigh whether to restore charges and determine how any privilege claims will be addressed moving forward.
This article has been reported by our content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.
