Halligan defends handling of Comey grand jury indictment, claims magistrate omitted key context

 The ongoing legal situation surrounding James Comey, the former FBI director, who faces indictment related to his congressional testimony. Halligan, the U. S. Attorney defending the indictment, refutes criticisms regarding the grand jury's handling of the charges against Comey, while challenges arise from his legal team.

• Indictment Overview: Comey has been indicted on two counts: making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. This stems from allegations that he misled Congress about his authorization of media leaks regarding investigations into Trump and Clinton.

• Legal Defense: Lindsey Halligan, the U. S. Attorney appointed by Trump, defends the indictment's process, asserting that the grand jury properly deliberated and found probable cause. She claims that a magistrate judge misrepresented aspects of her presentation to the grand jury.

• Grand Jury Proceedings: An issue arose when a third count, which the grand jury rejected, was initially included in the indictment. Halligan revised the indictment to reflect only the counts approved by the grand jury but did not present this to the full grand jury again.

• Judicial Scrutiny: Judge Michael Nachmanoff questioned the validity of the revised indictment, asking whether all grand jurors had seen it. There are conflicting interpretations of whether the actions taken were appropriate.

• Criticism from Magistrate Judge: Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick criticized Halligan's handling of the case, suggesting that Comey should have access to grand jury materials due to potential irregularities.

• Comey's Defense Argument: Comey's lawyer contends that the way the indictment was handled invalidates it, citing the omission of input from the full grand jury. They also argue that Halligan's statements to the grand jury misrepresented the law.

The legal battle surrounding James Comey continues as his indictment faces scrutiny, with arguments about the validity of the prosecution's process and the handling of grand jury materials. Halligan stands firm in her defense of the indictment's legitimacy amidst challenges from Comey’s legal team. 

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/halligan-defends-handling-comey-grand-jury-indictment-and-claims-magistrate