3 days ago
The lead charismatic successful erstwhile FBI head James Comey’s lawsuit complete a societal media station has withdrawn from nan case, according to a caller court filing.
The justness section revenge announcement pinch nan tribunal connected Friday evening that Matthew Petracca, a charismatic from nan US attorney’s agency for nan eastbound territory of North Carolina, had been replaced by adjunct US lawyer Timothy Severo.
The documents did not see immoderate mentation for nan change. A justness section spokesperson did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from nan Guardian.
Comey was indicted successful North Carolina successful April 2026 complete a photograph he posted past twelvemonth of seashells arranged successful nan numbers “86 47” – a connection nan justness section says amounts to a threat against Trump, nan 47th US president. The erstwhile FBI head is being indicted connected 2 counts of threatening nan president and transmitting a threat successful interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years successful prison.
In consequence to nan indictment, Comey posted a video to his individual Substack, wherever he defended his innocence.
“Well, they’re back,” he said successful nan video. “This time, astir a image of seashells connected a North Carolina formation a twelvemonth ago. And this won’t beryllium nan extremity of it, but thing has changed pinch me. I americium still innocent. I americium still not afraid. And I still judge successful nan independent national judiciary. So, let’s go.”
The latest charges arrived months aft nan nonaccomplishment of an effort by nan justness section to prosecute Comey for allegedly lying to Congress. That indictment was tossed retired by a national judge successful Virginia who ruled that nan charismatic overseeing nan lawsuit had been wrongfully appointed.
Former prosecutors person said that nan latest charges against Comey are weaker than nan earlier ones and speak to acting lawyer wide Todd Blanche’s ambition to quickly meet Trump’s desires. Blanche was tapped to lead nan DoJ pursuing nan firing of lawyer wide Pam Bondi.
“The descent to nan bottommost astatine DoJ has accelerated since Bondi’s departure – an evident casualty of Blanche’s ambition,” Michael Bromwich, a erstwhile inspector wide astatine nan justness department, antecedently told nan Guardian.
Legal experts besides argued that nan 2nd indictment of Comey, a top target of Donald Trump successful his quest for revenge against critics, suggests much charges could beryllium coming against different Trump opponents arsenic nan president continues to usage nan section of justness to onslaught perceived governmental enemies.
Trump’s grievances pinch Comey day backmost to nan president’s first term, erstwhile he led nan bureau’s counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia. Trump fired Comey arsenic FBI head successful 2017, 4 years into his 10-year term.
Comey’s proceedings is group to statesman connected 21 October successful North Carolina.
