Overview

• Prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia are preparing to present alleged false-statements evidence to a grand jury as soon as Thursday, with the statute of limitations tied to Comey’s Sept. 30, 2020 testimony expiring Tuesday.
• The push follows President Trump’s public call for prosecutions and the ouster of U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who opposed charging, according to multiple reports.
• Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump defense lawyer and White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, was sworn in this week as interim U.S. attorney and is overseeing the case.
• Career DOJ prosecutors concluded after a months-long probe that the evidence did not meet probable-cause standards and recommended declining perjury and obstruction charges, sources said.
• Investigators have focused on whether Comey lied about authorizing leaks or recalling a 2016 referral, and any indictment would require at least 12 grand jurors, with reports indicating the presentation may occur in Richmond.