A U.S. District Judge ruled that Lindsey Halligan, appointed by former President Donald Trump, lacked the legal authority to file charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge dismissed these cases, which were perceived as politically motivated actions against Trump's critics. Halligan, who has no criminal law experience and was selected to replace Erik Siebert after he resigned, faced scrutiny for her appointment's legality. Siebert had refused to pursue charges based on disputed allegations against Comey and James.

Under federal law, a president can appoint a U.S. attorney temporarily for a maximum of 120 days until a permanent replacement is confirmed. This period had expired before Halligan's appointment, leading the court to maintain Siebert's position. The White House and Attorney General Pam Bondi argued that the 120-day period should reset with Halligan's appointment, but the judge rejected this claim, emphasizing that such a precedent could undermine the Senate confirmation process. The ruling highlighted concerns about allowing private citizens to secure indictments without proper legal standing, which would contradict established law.

In a related development, Joseph Schnitt, a former employee of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has filed a lawsuit following his dismissal in September 2025. Schnitt alleges that his termination was retaliatory, stemming from comments he made about the government's handling of the Epstein files. These comments were recorded without his knowledge and later made public by journalist James O'Keefe. Schnitt contends that his remarks were personal opinions based on publicly available information and did not involve confidential knowledge from his role at the DOJ. He seeks reinstatement, acknowledgment of retaliation, and back pay.

The controversy surrounding the Epstein files has raised significant questions about the Trump administration's transparency and accountability in managing sensitive information related to high-profile individuals. The DOJ has not commented on Schnitt's lawsuit.

Additionally, Laura Ingraham, a host on Fox News, attributed the dismissal of charges against Comey and James to the Justice Department led by Pam Bondi, rather than Halligan. Ingraham and Trump's former impeachment attorney, David Schoen, suggested that better support from the Justice Department could have prevented the legal issues faced by Halligan. Bondi's attempt to retroactively appoint Halligan as a special attorney to validate her actions was unsuccessful, particularly given the previous disqualifications of other Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys. This situation reflects broader challenges within the Justice Department regarding the pursuit of legal actions against Trump's political opponents, which some have characterized as politically motivated.