“Indict first, investigate later”: Judge criticizes Comey case, orders DOJ to hand over evidence

A federal judge sharply criticized the Justice Department s handling of its criminal situation against former FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday saying it appeared prosecutors had decided to indict first and investigate later According to the Associated Press U S Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick repeatedly pressed Trump-appointed prosecutor Lindsey Halligan over her failure to share key evidence with Comey s defense unit During a hearing in Alexandria Virginia Fitzpatrick ordered Halligan to hand over the records by Thursday evening calling the leadership s conduct unfair to the defense Related James Comey s indictment is a trademark tactic of authoritarians The dispute centers on a Justice Department probe that began as an internal leak research into the FBI s handling alleged Russian electoral contest interference Prosecutors allege Comey authorized a friend Daniel Richman to share information with reporters then denied doing so under oath before Congress in Comey has pleaded not guilty arguing that the question he was requested by Sen Ted Cruz R-Texas was ambiguous The former FBI director was present at this week s hearing but did not speak Start your day with essential news from Salon Sign up for our free morning newsletter Crash Module Comey s lawyers have portrayed the prosecution as political retribution noting that the indictment arrived just days after President Donald Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey and other perceived enemies They ve also challenged Halligan s appointment saying the former Trump lawyer was hastily installed in September after her predecessor refused to indict In court documents reviewed by the New York Times the defense has accused Halligan of irregularities so severe and pervasivevthat they likely prejudiced the grand jurors narrow decision to indict Read more about this topic Comey pleads not guilty to charges pushed by Trump A new Red Scare This could be much worse For Trump s perceived enemies the process may be the punishment The post Indict first investigate later Judge criticizes Comey scenario orders DOJ to hand over evidence appeared first on Salon com