A federal judge has thrown out the Justice Department’s criminal case against New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges had no lawful authority to do so. The decision represents a major setback for the Trump administration’s push to pursue legal action against officials the president has long viewed as adversaries.
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie determined that acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been improperly appointed to lead the Eastern District of Virginia. According to the ruling, federal vacancy rules made clear that judges—not the president or attorney general—held the power to select a replacement after the previous U.S. attorney resigned. Because that process was disregarded, Currie concluded that Halligan’s entire tenure was invalid.
As a result, all filings she initiated—including those targeting James and former FBI Director James Comey—had to be nullified. The judge dismissed both prosecutions without prejudice, meaning the government could theoretically bring the case against James again through a lawfully appointed prosecutor.
However, the timeline effectively closes the book on the case against Comey. The statute of limitations on the claims against him ran out in September, and the DOJ is barred from using special provisions to refile charges within six months of the dismissal.
Improper Appointment Derails High-Profile Cases
The now-dismissed cases were among the first major actions brought by the Justice Department after Trump returned to office. Both James and Comey argued from the outset that the charges were retaliatory, citing Trump’s long record of public threats and promises to punish his critics.
The allegations against James centered on bank-related conduct involving a property purchase in Virginia—claims she strongly denied. Comey had been accused of lying under oath and obstructing a congressional inquiry related to the Russia investigation.
Halligan’s appointment drew intense scrutiny almost immediately. She had never handled a criminal case before taking over one of the country’s most prominent federal districts, and her lack of experience showed during early proceedings. Within days of being sworn in, she attempted to indict Comey but made multiple procedural mistakes, including incorrectly stating to grand jurors that he would not have a Fifth Amendment right at trial.
Later, the DOJ disclosed that the final indictment used to charge Comey was never actually presented to the grand jury, meaning the panel never reviewed or voted on the charges—a revelation that raised serious doubts about the legitimacy of the entire case.
James Responds to Court’s Decision
After the ruling, James issued a brief public statement expressing gratitude and resolve:
“I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.
I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”
Broader Implications for the DOJ
Currie’s decision makes Halligan the fourth Trump-installed acting U.S. attorney found to be serving unlawfully. The ruling highlights deeper problems within the administration’s aggressive efforts to pursue charges against individuals Trump has repeatedly criticized, including those who investigated him or challenged his business practices.
With this dismissal, the case against James ends on legal grounds that had nothing to do with the accusations themselves. It also stands as a significant judicial rebuke to the DOJ’s attempts to bypass appointment rules in order to bring politically charged prosecutions.
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