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2h ago

Comey Prosecution Scrutinized as New Virginia U.S. Attorney Faces Questions Over Errors and Authority

Critics question DOJ independence, citing unusual personnel changes, filing missteps, and overt White House pressure.

Lindsey Halligan fixes an earring at the end of an interview outside of the White House, on August 20.
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Lindsey Halligan stands in the Oval Office during an executive order signing on March 31.
Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2017.

Overview

  • A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted James Comey on counts of making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his 2020 Senate testimony.
  • Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer with no prior prosecutorial experience, is leading the case and reportedly presented the indictment to the grand jury by herself.
  • Court records show contradictory filings about the grand jury’s action, with a judge noting that an errant document bore Halligan’s signature, alongside other early clerical errors flagged in the docket.
  • Conservative legal analyst Ed Whelan argues Halligan’s appointment may violate federal vacancy rules, an issue defense lawyers are expected to raise in pretrial challenges.
  • The indictment followed public calls from President Trump to pursue Comey and other rivals, drawing bipartisan concern including from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, while Comey assembled a defense team led by Patrick Fitzgerald with local counsel Jessica Carmichael.