Overview
- U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly granted a temporary restraining order blocking access to Daniel Richman’s emails, a full image of his personal computer, his iCloud and Columbia University accounts, and any material derived from them.
- The court said Richman is likely to succeed on his claim that the government retained and searched a complete copy of his computer without a warrant, violating the Fourth Amendment.
- The Justice Department must identify, segregate and secure the covered materials and certify compliance by 12 p.m. ET on Monday, with the order effective through Dec. 12 unless modified.
- Prosecutors had relied on Richman’s communications as a cornerstone of the since-dismissed case accusing James Comey of lying to and obstructing Congress; that indictment was vacated after a judge found lead prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed.
- The ruling adds to hurdles for any new charges, following a magistrate’s criticism of the evidence handling and raising risks that key materials could be excluded as well as concerns about statutes of limitations and a recent grand jury’s refusal to reindict Letitia James.