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A US federal judge has dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James, dealing a blow against President Donald Trump’s attempts to punish two of his political opponents using the Department of Justice.
Federal judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled the appointment of Trump ally Lindsey Halligan, who brought the criminal charges against Comey, the ex-FBI director, and James, New York attorney-general, was unlawful.
The “attorney-general’s attempt to install Ms Halligan . . . was invalid,” Currie wrote, adding Halligan “had no lawful authority to present” the indictments against the defendants.
Currie has dismissed the cases without prejudice.
The justice department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story