Judge dismisses James Comey, Letitia James charges

A federal judge ruled Monday to dismiss the federal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. South Carolina U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie agreed with arguments made by attorneys for Comey and James and found that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was illegitimately appointed to office. Halligan criminally indicted Comey on accusations of lying to Congress, and James for alleged mortgage fraud. Both pleaded not guilty to the separate charges.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s attempt to install Halligan as interim U.S. attorney was illegal because the post’s interim period had already been used up by a previous candidate, Currie wrote. All actions that Halligan made during her illegitimate appointment are considered an unlawful exercise of executive power and hereby set aside, according to the order.

The Department of Justice argued that Bondi cemented the indictments’ validity by signing a statement retroactively appointing Halligan as an interim U.S. attorney. Currie dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning the same charges may be brought against the pair in the future.

What was the reaction to the ruling? James released a Monday statement sharing gratitude for the legal victory. James would continue fighting for New Yorkers every day while fearlessly facing the Trump administration’s baseless accusations, she wrote.

WORLD reached out to the DOJ for comment and did not receive an immediate response.

Dig deeper: Read my previous reporting on the case’s oral arguments for more background.