Lindsey Halligan, the Donald Trump-affiliated insurance lawyer the Justice Department handpicked to pursue some of the president’s longtime political foes, including former FBI Director James Comey, was not lawfully appointed, and therefore, the indictment against him was dismissed.
After reviewing grand jury materials connected to Comey’s case, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, explained the decision.
Comey’s team had alleged that Halligan was unqualified to hold her role as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia due to how she was appointed. In a separate argument, Comey’s lawyers are arguing that the administration’s prosecution of the former FBI director is vindictive and selective and should be dismissed on these grounds, as well.
Attorney General Pam Bondi ushered Halligan into the role of interim U.S. attorney on Sept. 22 after the incumbent U.S. attorney, Trump appointee Erik Siebert, resigned.
Siebert had stepped down rather than submit to a reported pressure campaign to prosecute both Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He had failed to find sufficient evidence to support allegations that Comey had lied to Congress or that James had committed mortgage fraud, allegations Trump has pressured the Justice Department to investigate.
