Overview
- Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick directed prosecutors to turn over all grand jury materials and an audio recording to James Comey’s lawyers by close of business Monday.
- The ruling cites a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps,” including potential Fourth Amendment violations tied to the reuse of 2019–2020 Richman warrant returns without a new warrant or privilege safeguards.
- The court identified apparent “fundamental misstatements of the law” made to grand jurors by acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan and noted irregular or incomplete transcript and audio records of the proceedings.
- Fitzpatrick wrote that the record establishes grounds that may justify dismissing the indictment based on pre‑grand‑jury conduct, an extraordinary finding that could derail the prosecution.
- Comey was indicted on Sept. 25 for allegedly making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding, with a Jan. 5 trial scheduled, while separate challenges to Halligan’s appointment and potential government appeals now loom over the case.