Overview
- U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick directed prosecutors to give James Comey’s lawyers all grand jury materials, including audio recordings and sealed filings, by the end of the day.
- He wrote that government misconduct may have tainted the grand jury, cataloging 11 investigative and presentation errors that could justify dismissal.
- The order faults reliance on 2019–2020 materials seized from Daniel Richman for a separate 2025 probe without seeking a new, narrowly tailored warrant, which the judge called highly unusual.
- Fitzpatrick highlighted potential attorney‑client privilege breaches, noting the government never engaged Comey despite knowing Richman represented him, and that a prosecutor exposed to privileged communications still presented the case.
- He questioned grand jury procedures, citing rapid re‑presentation of charges and possible gaps in the record, while noting the grand jury previously rejected an additional count when indicting Comey on Sept. 25.