A federal judge has dismissed charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on a procedural technicality, according to the Department of Justice. The decision comes as the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced plans to appeal the ruling, emphasizing that legal action will be taken to hold the two accountable for their alleged misconduct.
The judge did not address the merits of the cases or suggest the defendants were innocent, but instead dismissed the charges due to an issue with the prosecutor’s appointment. This move has drawn criticism from within the White House, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the judge was “clearly trying to shield Letitia James and James Comey from receiving accountability.” The ruling is seen as a temporary reprieve for the defendants, though the Department of Justice remains determined to continue legal proceedings.
Comey and James responded with predictable reactions, with Comey referring to the prosecution as a product of “malevolence and incompetence,” and James claiming she was “fearless in the face of these baseless charges.” The Department of Justice has already appointed Lindsey Halligan, whom Bondi described as an “excellent U.S. attorney,” as a special prosecutor to ensure continued investigation into the matter. The message from the administration is clear: this will not be an easy battle for those who attempt to avoid accountability.
