A federal judge said there is evidence of government misconduct in the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey, ordering prosecutors to hand over grand jury materials to his defense team, according to reporting by Reuters. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick issued the ruling on Monday in Alexandria, Virginia, and said the errors may have affected how prosecutors secured charges against Comey.
Fitzpatrick pointed to mistakes made by Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney leading the case. He said she may have misled grand jurors or given flawed legal instructions, which could have compromised the integrity of the process. Comey pleaded not guilty in September to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.
Fitzpatrick described the errors as part of a “disturbing pattern” and said the record showed “profound investigative missteps.” He called the release of grand jury material an “extraordinary remedy,” yet said it was necessary due to the unique facts of the case. Prosecutors immediately sought a pause of the order, claiming the judge may have misunderstood parts of the record. Later in the day, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff temporarily halted the disclosure while reviewing the matter.
A politically charged case involving Trump critics
Comey is one of several outspoken critics of President Donald Trump who have faced criminal charges in recent months. Former national security adviser John Bolton and New York Attorney General Letitia James were also indicted. Critics argue the Justice Department abandoned its long-standing norm of political independence under the current administration.
Comey’s lawyers say the prosecution stems from Trump’s personal hostility toward him. Trump has publicly threatened to imprison rivals since his 2015 campaign, and Comey’s indictment came years after he oversaw the FBI inquiry into contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian operatives.
Questions also surround Halligan’s appointment. She had not worked as a prosecutor before Trump selected her in September, and previously represented him in civil litigation. Other judges have already raised concerns about the legality of her appointment and the political motivations behind recent Justice Department cases.
Fitzpatrick’s ruling detailed several errors. He noted that prosecutors reviewed old FBI-seized evidence without obtaining a new warrant. He also found that an FBI agent who testified before the grand jury may have been exposed to attorney-client-protected material. The judge said Halligan made statements to grand jurors that harmed Comey’s rights and could have influenced the decision to indict him.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the ruling. Comey is seeking to have the case dismissed and will now gain access to normally secret grand jury records to support that effort. Fitzpatrick said disclosure was required to ensure the accused receives full constitutional protection in a case where government conduct may have undermined the proceedings.
