Judge Cites ‘Misconduct’ in DOJ Comey Indictment Case/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge sharply criticized the Justice Department for major investigative missteps in its case against former FBI Director James Comey. The judge ordered prosecutors to release grand jury materials after identifying serious legal and procedural errors. Comey, indicted in September, has pleaded not guilty and is challenging the case’s legitimacy.
Comey Indictment Controversy: Quick Looks
- Judge William Fitzpatrick ruled the DOJ mishandled the Comey case.
- Grand jury materials must be handed over to Comey’s defense team.
- Key errors included misstatements of law and irregular grand jury transcripts.
- The case was led by Lindsey Halligan, a Trump appointee with no prior prosecution experience.
- Judge cited use of potentially privileged communications during the investigation.
- Comey is accused of false statements and obstructing a congressional inquiry.
- Defense claims political motivation, citing Halligan’s sudden appointment.
- Comey is one of several Trump critics recently indicted by the DOJ.
Deep Look: Judge Orders DOJ to Release Grand Jury Records in James Comey Case Over Misconduct
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Monday delivered a sweeping rebuke of the Justice Department’s handling of the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, citing what he described as a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps.” The ruling marks the most serious legal challenge yet to the controversial prosecution, which critics say is politically motivated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ordered that all grand jury materials related to the case be turned over to Comey’s defense team, highlighting a series of procedural and legal errors that may have compromised the integrity of the proceedings.
Judge Details Troubling Errors in Prosecution
In a 24-page opinion, Fitzpatrick identified several critical problems, including:
- “Fundamental misstatements of the law” presented to the grand jury
- Use of potentially privileged communications as part of the investigative process
- Irregularities in the grand jury transcript, which remain unexplained
“The Court recognizes that the relief sought by the defense is rarely granted,” Fitzpatrick wrote. “However, the record points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps, missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceeding.”
A Prosecutor with No Trial Experience
Central to the controversy is Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who filed the charges against Comey in September 2025. A former Trump White House aide with no prior experience as a federal prosecutor, Halligan was appointed just days before she presented the case to the grand jury.
Comey’s defense team alleges that Halligan’s sudden appointment and lack of prosecutorial background raise serious questions about the case’s integrity and political motivations. Judge Fitzpatrick appeared to validate some of these concerns by pointing to her conduct during the grand jury process.
A Pattern of Political Targeting?
Comey has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation — accusations tied to his handling of internal FBI matters during the 2016 election cycle and its aftermath.
He is also one of three high-profile critics of former President Trump to face federal charges in recent weeks. Legal analysts and political observers have noted the trend, suggesting the Justice Department under Trump may be using prosecutorial powers to target political opponents.
Grand Jury Errors Raise Constitutional Questions
Fitzpatrick’s ruling is unusual in that courts rarely grant full access to grand jury materials unless there is compelling evidence of misconduct. In this case, the judge concluded that the threshold had been met.
Legal experts note that misstatements of law and misuse of privileged communications could violate due process rights and taint the indictment altogether, potentially setting the stage for the case’s dismissal.
Justice Department Silent on Ruling
As of Monday afternoon, the Justice Department had not responded to requests for comment on the ruling or on Halligan’s role in the investigation. The ruling increases pressure on DOJ leadership to justify both the selection of Halligan and the decision to pursue the case amid allegations of partisanship.
Meanwhile, Comey’s legal team is expected to file additional motions aimed at dismissing the case entirely, arguing that it was illegally pursued and tainted from the start.
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