Newly appointed US attorney will attempt to charge James Comey despite prosecutors finding no probable cause: Sources
Former FBI Director James Comey is facing potential indictment for allegedly lying to Congress, as U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, handpicked by President Donald Trump, plans to present the case to a grand jury. Despite prosecutors recommending against charges due to insufficient evidence, Halligan is moving forward with the case, following Trump’s directive to prosecute Comey and other political adversaries.
The investigation into Comey failed to establish probable cause of a crime, making it unlikely to secure a conviction or even an indictment. However, Halligan, a former insurance lawyer with no criminal prosecution experience, is determined to pursue the case before the statute of limitations expires.
Trump’s influence in pushing for prosecutions of his opponents has caused turmoil in the Eastern District of Virginia’s U.S. Attorney’s office. Erik Siebert, Trump’s previous nominee, resigned after refusing to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump quickly replaced Siebert with Halligan, who has been seen at DOJ headquarters discussing the Comey case.
Trump’s long-standing animosity towards Comey stems from the latter’s role in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The Department of Justice launched a probe into Comey after claims of mishandling sensitive documents related to the Russia investigation. CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s review criticized the 2016 intelligence assessment, prompting Trump to label Comey and Brennan as “bad and dishonest people.”
Comey and Brennan have defended the integrity of the 2016 intelligence assessment, citing bipartisan investigations and the Mueller report. Despite the lack of concrete evidence against Comey, Halligan’s pursuit of charges reflects Trump’s continued efforts to hold his political adversaries accountable.
