Overview

• CNN, Reuters, and NBC report that New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted in Alexandria on a bank fraud charge tied to a 2023 mortgage, after earlier DOJ teams said they lacked evidence to charge her.
• Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in Alexandria on Oct. 8 to counts of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, with trial set for Jan. 5.
• Comey’s lawyers said they will seek dismissal by challenging Lindsey Halligan’s appointment and alleging selective or vindictive prosecution, citing planned motions disclosed in court.
• Courtroom reporting described an inexperienced government team that brought in outside counsel, signaled they were new to the case, and followed Halligan’s unusual move to present indictments to grand juries herself.
• The prosecutions grew out of FHFA Director Bill Pulte’s referrals as other probes of Democrats such as Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook continue, while legal analysts and some Republicans question the prospects for convictions under the higher trial standard.