This is totally bogus!
In a stunning legal twist, a federal judge threw out the criminal cases against two of President Trump’s most aggressive political opponents—former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James—after ruling that the prosecutor leading both cases was improperly appointed.
The decision immediately fueled concerns among conservatives that the judicial system is once again tilting in favor of Trump’s enemies, allowing powerful figures who targeted him for years to slip through the cracks of legal accountability.
Judge Says Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Was “Illegally Installed”
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, a Clinton-appointed federal judge, concluded that Lindsey Halligan—Trump’s choice to prosecute Comey and James—was never legally eligible to serve as interim U.S. attorney.
According to Currie, the 120-day time limit for interim appointments had already expired under the previous prosecutor. Once that clock ran out, the authority to appoint a replacement belonged to the district’s federal judges—not Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Currie wrote that every action taken by Halligan must be tossed out because it flowed from an invalid appointment, including the grand jury indictments.
Her ruling dismissed both the Comey and James cases without prejudice, meaning the DOJ could refile the charges—but only if a properly appointed prosecutor takes over. Whether that can realistically happen is uncertain and legally complicated.
Comey and James Get a Major Lifeline
Both Comey and Letitia James had aggressively argued that Halligan’s appointment made the indictments against them invalid from the start. Because Halligan was the only prosecutor involved in presenting evidence to the grand jury, defense attorneys claimed the charges were legally void.
The vacancy opened when the previous U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, stepped down after refusing to indict Comey before the statute of limitations expired. The Trump administration, frustrated with Siebert’s hesitation, pushed for swift action. Bondi appointed Halligan, Trump’s preferred pick, shortly afterward.
Judge Currie ruled that the appointment never should have happened.
Defense attorneys said allowing the administration to restart interim appointments indefinitely would essentially eliminate the Senate confirmation process. Prosecutors disagreed, but Currie insisted the law’s plain language favored the defense.
Comey Celebrates—And Attacks Trump Again
Hours after the ruling, Comey posted a victory video on social media, claiming that Trump’s Department of Justice operated with “malevolence and incompetence.”
He insisted he expects Trump to “come after me again,” but declared himself “fearless,” calling the federal judiciary a safeguard against what he described as Trump’s “tyranny.”
However, the ruling highlights a major problem for prosecutors: Because the indictment was invalid, the statute of limitations may now be fully expired. If that’s the case, the DOJ’s ability to pursue Comey again could be gone forever.
Letitia James Claims Vindication
Letitia James—whose conflicts with Trump span years and include multiple political and legal battles—called the dismissal “heartening.”
Her attorney Abbe Lowell accused the Trump administration of trying to “handpick an ally” to bring charges after seasoned prosecutors refused, calling the entire case politically driven from the start.
He vowed to fight any future charges, calling the prosecution “retaliatory” and “baseless.”
White House Says This Is NOT Over
The Trump White House strongly pushed back on the ruling.
Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stressed that “the facts behind these indictments have not changed,” arguing that Monday’s decision was purely procedural and not a reflection of innocence.
On Fox News, press secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted Judge Currie’s ruling as “unprecedented” and said the judge was attempting to “shield Comey and James from accountability.”
Leavitt emphasized that:
- The administration firmly stands behind Halligan
- Her appointment was fully justified
- The Justice Department will appeal immediately
She also warned Comey to “slow down the victory lap.”
A Pattern? Halligan Becomes the Fourth Trump Prosecutor Blocked by Judges
With this ruling, Halligan joins three other Trump-selected U.S. attorneys—serving in New Jersey, Nevada, and the Los Angeles district—who have been deemed improperly appointed in various cases.
However, Halligan’s situation is unique: In other districts, career prosecutors were also involved, allowing indictments to survive the appointment challenges. Halligan, working alone on the Comey and James cases, lacked that structural support.
That difference could allow Comey and James to escape prosecution entirely.