Federal Judge Baffled by Discrepancies in James Comey Indictment Proceedings
Federal Judge Baffled by Discrepancies in James Comey Indictment Proceedings
A federal judge expressed significant confusion and surprise this week during the indictment proceedings for former FBI Director James Comey, as revelations emerged about inconsistent documents and the unusual handling of the case by prosecutors. The unprecedented charges against Comey, accusing him of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, unfolded amidst a backdrop of political pressure and rapid changes within the Justice Department.
During a seven-minute court session on Thursday night in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala confronted newly appointed interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan—a former Trump personal lawyer—regarding two conflicting versions of Comey’s indictment filed on the case docket. One version included a third count that a grand jury had voted against, while the other accurately reflected only the two counts on which Comey was successfully indicted by a 14-9 vote.
“So this has never happened before. I’ve been handed two documents that are in the Mr. Comey case that are inconsistent with one another,” Judge Vaala stated, noting that both documents bore the grand jury foreperson’s signature. The judge also highlighted that one document ambiguously suggested a failure to concur “across all three counts,” further deepening her confusion.
Halligan’s response only added to the courtroom’s bewilderment. She claimed she had only reviewed and signed the two-count indictment, stating, “I did not see the other one. I don’t know where that came from.” Judge Vaala’s incredulous follow-up, “So your office didn’t prepare the indictment that they —,” was met with Halligan’s clarification that she had initially prepared three counts but only signed the two-count version. Remarkably, Vaala then pointed out that the three-count document also bore Halligan’s signature.
The proceedings themselves raised eyebrows, commencing unusually late at 6:47 p.m. Thursday evening, prompting Judge Vaala to comment, “I don’t think we’ve ever met this late.”
This high-profile indictment marks a significant and politically charged move by the Justice Department, coming after former President Trump publicly called for investigations into Comey. The situation is further complicated by the swift appointment of Halligan, following days of turmoil in the U.S. attorney’s office. Her predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned on Friday amidst concerns he would be fired for not prosecuting another Trump adversary, New York Attorney General Letitia James. Internal Justice Department sources reveal that staff had circulated a memo arguing against charging Comey. Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly lauded Halligan’s performance on X on Friday, calling it “outstanding.”
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