WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is pushing back against a recent court ruling that complicates their attempts to indict former FBI Director James Comey, arguing it limits access to critical evidence.
A federal judge in Washington issued an order over the weekend preventing the DOJ from accessing computer files from Daniel Richman, a close associate of Comey and a law professor at Columbia University. Prosecutors believe Richman's information is key to any potential case against Comey.
Prosecutors filed a motion on Tuesday to overturn this ruling, asserting that Richman’s request to regain his files represents an attempt to obstruct the investigation. They contend that the judge exceeded her authority by returning Richman’s evidence, hampering their ability to prosecute Comey.
According to the DOJ, Comey misused Richman to leak information about his decision-making during the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Last month, Comey was charged with lying to Congress over claims that he did not authorize any associate to act as a source for the media.
After a separate indictment against Comey was dismissed, Richman sought the return of his computer records, which had been seized in 2019 and 2020 under an investigation that was later closed without charges.
Richman and his legal team argue that the DOJ has improperly retained these materials, claiming they contain a significant amount of privileged information. Legal disputes have arisen over whether the DOJ's searches of Richman's records were legitimate.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly initially sided with Richman’s attorneys, ordering the DOJ to return the files and cease their access, but the DOJ has appealed this ruling.
This case has significant ramifications as it continues to unfold, particularly concerning the implications of executive power and the limits of federal prosecution.
