Attorney General Changes the Lindsay Halligan "Story" in the Comey Prosecution

Halligan Was Retroactively Named 'Special Attorney' in Charge of Comey and James Prosecutions, DOJ Says in Latest Filing

In a recent court filing, the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that Attorney General Pam Bondi has retroactively named Lindsey Halligan as a "special attorney" in charge of the prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The designation was made "for the avoidance of doubt" to counter defense motions challenging the legality of Halligan's initial appointment as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

Halligan was appointed as interim U.S. Attorney in September 2025 after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, was reportedly forced out for resisting pressure to indict Comey and James. Defense attorneys for Comey and James have argued that Halligan's installation was unlawful and politically motivated, and they are seeking to have the cases dismissed. They have pointed out that Halligan, a former personal lawyer for President Trump with no prior prosecutorial experience, was the only person to sign the indictments. 
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The DOJ filing, submitted on November 3, 2025, argues that the subsequent "special attorney" designation by Attorney General Bondi validates Halligan's authority to handle the cases, even if her interim appointment were found to be procedurally flawed. This is the latest development in the ongoing legal and political battle over the legitimacy of the prosecutions, which critics view as a politically driven "revenge" campaign by the Trump administration. 

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