In a dramatic turn of events, President Trump’s appointed federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia is urgently preparing to present a case against James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, to a grand jury. This effort comes ahead of a critical deadline early next week, according to sources familiar with the unfolding situation.
Lindsey Halligan, a former defense attorney for Trump, has been thrust into this high-stakes role following the abrupt dismissal of her predecessor last week. Halligan is currently under immense pressure to draft an indictment against Comey, as the White House has explicitly demanded a pursuit of one of Trump's most prominent adversaries. This comes despite the fact that several career prosecutors had previously concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support an indictment against Comey.
The investigation centers on whether Comey should face charges for allegedly lying to Congress regarding the F.B.I. investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign and its connections to Russia. This inquiry has been labeled by Trump as a "witch hunt" designed to undermine his presidency.
Halligan, who has no prior experience as a prosecutor, could potentially seek to file charges as early as Thursday. However, it is anticipated that she will take definitive action by Tuesday, which marks the expiration of the statute of limitations concerning Comey’s congressional testimony, according to insiders who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.
Even if Halligan meets the impending deadline, there is no certainty that the grand jury will find enough evidence to indict Comey. It remains unclear whether a career prosecutor would be willing to present this case to the grand jury, or if Halligan or another political appointee loyal to Trump would step in to make the case in court.
As this story develops, it raises questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement, and how such dynamics shape the ongoing investigations involving key figures from the Trump administration.
