By Steve Neavling
Former FBI Director James Comey is asking a federal judge to throw out criminal charges against him, saying the U.S. attorney who brought the case was unlawfully appointed and that he’s being targeted because of President Donald Trump’s “personal spite.”
Comey’s legal team said in court filings Monday that the indictment stems from “multiple glaring constitutional violations and an egregious abuse of power by the federal government,” Reuters reports. They argued that Trump “ordered the Department of Justice to prosecute Mr. Comey because of personal spite and because Mr. Comey has frequently criticized the President for his conduct in office.”
Comey, who pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation, is the first of several Trump critics recently charged by the Justice Department. The others include New York Attorney General Letitia James and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
The case was brought by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney, who was appointed interim U.S. attorney in Virginia despite having no prior prosecutorial experience. Comey’s lawyers say her appointment was illegal because she was never confirmed by the Senate and that, as a result, “the indictment is a nullity and must be dismissed.”
The Justice Department declined to comment.
