A US judge has dismissed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges was unlawfully appointed.
Judge Cameron Currie stated that Lindsey Halligan, appointed by Trump to pursue the charges against Comey and James, was never eligible for the position. Both Comey and James have consistently asserted their innocence, framing the prosecutions as politically motivated.
In response to the dismissal, the White House expressed that the indictments' facts remain unchanged, indicating that this ruling is not the final judgment on the matter.
Former President Donald Trump has vocally criticized both Comey and James, labeling them guilty in posts on social media, further escalating tensions.
Judge Currie reasoned that Halligan, lacking prior prosecutorial experience, could not legally present the charges to a grand jury. The judge ruled, All actions flowing from Ms Halligan's defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr Comey's indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power and are hereby set aside.
Halligan replaced Erik Siebert, an interim US attorney who resigned amid pressure from the Trump administration to file charges against Comey and James. Judge Currie's ruling underscores that Halligan's appointment breached statutory limits on interim US attorney appointments, as the 120-day period for making such an appointment had lapsed.
The cases were dismissed without prejudice, allowing the possibility for the justice department to refile charges in the future. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that an appeal against Judge Currie's ruling would be filed promptly, maintaining that Halligan's appointment was legal.
After the ruling, Comey publicly expressed relief at the dismissal of what he described as a prosecution based on malice and incompetence, while bracing himself for future attacks from Trump. Letitia James celebrated her vindication, asserting her continuous commitment to fighting for New Yorkers despite facing serious legal challenges herself.
