Overview
- Lawfare published screenshots of a roughly 33-hour Signal exchange between interim EDVA U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan and reporter Anna Bower about the Letitia James prosecution, which the DOJ confirmed as authentic.
- Halligan initiated the messages, criticized coverage, and later tried to retroactively declare the conversation off the record, a move Bower rejected as contrary to standard practice.
- In the texts, Halligan referenced grand jury matters while stating she could not disclose grand jury information, highlighting sensitivities around secrecy and press interactions.
- The DOJ publicly defended Halligan’s performance, while legal experts split on the episode as poor judgment versus no clear ethics breach, and no internal review has been announced.
- Defense lawyers may invoke the exchange in court to question impartiality; Comey’s team has already moved to dismiss his case in part by challenging Halligan’s appointment, and she remains in the role.