Overview
- Senior U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Lindsey Halligan’s interim appointment violated federal vacancy law and the Appointments Clause, requiring the indictments to be set aside.
- Because Halligan was the sole prosecutor to present the cases to the grand juries and the only signatory on the indictments, the court concluded her actions were invalid.
- Both cases were dismissed without prejudice, preserving the Justice Department’s option to appeal or seek new charges, though Comey’s defense argues the statute of limitations now bars reprosecution.
- Recent filings and a court reporter’s email have fueled disputes over grand jury procedure in the Comey case, and a magistrate judge ordered disclosure of grand jury materials after flagging possible missteps.
- The ruling adds to a series of decisions disqualifying other Trump-installed interim U.S. attorneys, raising broader questions about prosecutions initiated under similar appointments.