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Comey prosecution already unravelling?

edited November 5 in Off-Topic
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/05/justice-department-prosecution-james-comey/

"A federal judge on Wednesday scolded the prosecutors pursuing charges against former FBI director James B. Comey for what he described as their “indict first and investigate second” approach to the case, saying it has placed an unfair burden on Comey’s defense."

"In addition to the grand jury transcripts, Fitzpatrick on Wednesday ordered that all of the seized Richman material be shared with Comey’s defense. He warned that if prosecutors continued to quote from it in their court filings before that review was complete, they did so “at their own risk” — suggesting that if their use of the material is later deemed improper it could threaten their entire case against Comey."

"The case involves another significant hurdle, however, before any ruling on that question is likely to come. Comey’s lawyers contend the case should be dismissed on grounds that Halligan, the prosecutor overseeing it, was appointed to her role in violation of laws governing U.S. attorney appointments."

I assume that this means, since they filed last minute before the statute of limitations expired, the case could not be re-filed?

Comments

  • edited November 5
    It is telling that Comey's indictment occurred after Trump's social media post called
    on Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other "enemies" of the president.
    A career prosecutor overseeing the investigation refused to indict Comey
    and resigned under pressure from the administration.
    The indictment was brought by Lindsey Halligan who has never prosecuted a case.
    Very unusual circumstances!
  • Suggest you check with @FD1000 on this- it's just normal procedure to be expected with a change of administration... "that's how democracy works."
  • "that's how democracy works."

    I beg to differ!
  • edited November 5
    @Observant1 I have no doubt they will accentuate that fact at some point in the proceedings.
  • edited November 5
    @Observant1- but...but... that's what FullyDelusional1000 said !!  Surly you don't think that he's wrong on that?
  • As the saying goes "Democracy is the worst form of government...except all the others".

    It is full of quirks and warts and undesirable outcomes - MAGA being first and foremost!
  • edited November 5
    @Old_Joe,

    I don't just think FD1000 is wrong — he is absolutely wrong without a doubt!
    Not only is FD1000 FullyDelusional, he is also FullyDisingenuous.
  • Well, I'll concede that he's certainly full of something...

  • the comey case will be the most embarrassing retribution fail on dock.
    if that has any meaning to a shameless gop.

    i ask MAGA again, how is this making any of you rich and better off today?
  • Yes, this is all about retribution. Lindsey Halligan Is an inexperienced attorney and there is little hope of getting anywhere in this case. The goal is to bring embarrassment to Comey in the public. Similar case with Letitia James on her mortgage application. All of these cases stemmed from Pam Bondi’s DOJ office.
  • Not to be contrary, but I am certain that it was never that well considered, re: embarrassment. I feel that the opposite will occur. trump will see that the case gets no traction, unlike his prosecutions, and it will be an embarrassment to him and his DOJ. And he will be quite agitated over the outcome.
  • a2z said:


    the comey case will be the most embarrassing retribution fail on dock.
    if that has any meaning to a shameless gop.

    i ask MAGA again, how is this making any of you rich and better off today?

    We know that it will never make unsuccessful people "better off".

    I have observed many times, that people with some form of Dunning Kruger, will always look for external reasons for their failure to achieve "great things". They will blame taxes, schools, parents, "the system", anything but themselves.

  • edited November 17
    "Judge hints at Comey indictment dismissal, orders DOJ to release grand jury material"

    That didn't take long. How to make the DOJ look stupid and political in one easy step!
    Sounds like the prosecutor may have lied to the Grand Jury to get the indictment.
    Now we (may soon) know why no real prosecutor would sign off on the case.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/17/trump-james-comey-doj-grand-jury.html

    "Judge William Fitzpatrick said a prosecutor had potentially violated court orders and Comey’s 4th Amendment rights, which “establish a reasonable basis to question whether the government’s conduct was willful or in reckless disregard of the law.”
  • edited November 17
    It didn't take long at all for Judge William Fitzpatrick to call out the Trump administration's buffoonery.

    “The judge said he 'is finding that the government’s actions in this case —
    whether purposeful, reckless or negligent — raise genuine issues of misconduct.'”

    “'But given the factually based challenges the defense has raised to the government’s conduct
    and the prospect that government misconduct may have tainted the grand jury proceedings,
    disclosure of grand jury materials under these unique circumstances is necessary
    to fully protect the rights of the accused,' Fitzpatrick wrote.”
  • This would be huge news in normal times. People would be fired, and for good reason. These days it is just a tiny blip in the constant string of abuse and incompetence.
  • edited November 17
    DrVenture said:

    This would be huge news in normal times.
    People would be fired, and for good reason.
    These days it is just a tiny blip in the constant string of abuse and incompetence.

    There is so much shit going on in this Trump adminstration that society (as a whole)
    has become desensitized to Trump's highly corrupt / illegal / immoral actions.
    This is part of the administration's overall plan.
  • We have to back off a bit and take a look at the people who "have become desensitized". Are these people, for the most part, even aware of what the normal prosecution process should consist of? I'd be surprised if that's true.
  • Old_Joe,

    Point taken.
    When I mentioned becoming desensitized, I was speaking in general terms
    about all of Trump's shenanigans and not specifically about the Comey case.
  • Trump has no respect for anyone's experience, education, or professional knowledge. He thinks that he can just appoint anyone to do anything, and the only "requirement" is loyalty to him.

    Evidently Judge William Fitzpatrick isn't overly impressed with that approach.
  • On that point, the FEMA director just resigned. Apparently, being unreachable during catastrophes is still frowned upon.
  • DrVenture said:

    This would be huge news in normal times. People would be fired, and for good reason. These days it is just a tiny blip in the constant string of abuse and incompetence.

    Utterly, totally and completely TRUE.
  • edited November 17
    "...We have to back off a bit and take a look at the people who "have become desensitized".

    And some are, by their own admission, hiding from the news every day! A personal friend of mine for many, many years is a case in point. He told me so. (And he is ordained! To me, that is just as big a scandal.) THIS is where a big chunk of the American population lives. Jayzum Suck Buckets!

    A certain fellow from Nazareth a long time ago ran into such DELIBERATE, WILLFUL IGNORANCE, too.
  • And as I recall He wasn't overly impressed, either.
  • I am also thinking how ironic it is that Comey is being prosecuted for lying to Congress, allegedly. And the case appears to be falling apart because the prosecutors are suspected of lying to the Grand Jury.
  • Depending upon how deep one wants to go into the weeds this is a Substack post from Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance (no relation to the VP). Ms. Vance is a former United States Attorney, currently a law professor and a legal analyst for MSNBC.

    What Happens When The Government Loses Its Credibility: The Comey Prosecution
  • Thanks mark! Excellent write-up. Every single person should find this unconscionable.

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