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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMark Joseph Stern - re James Comey and a "validly appointed U.S. Attorney" bringing a NEW indictment
I respectfully disagree with Kyle. Currie says Bondi couldn't ratify Halligan's indictment after the statute of limitations. She does NOT say that a future, validly appointed U.S. Attorney (interim or otherwise) is barred from bringing a NEW indictment under §3288 (she leaves that possibility open).
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T18:25:01.913Z
As a practical matter, it may be that no validly appointed U.S. Attorney will be willing to indict Comeyâthat's why Trump installed Halligan in the first place. But nothing in today's decision, as I read it, bars them from trying.
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T18:25:47.415Z
Put differently: The judge says Bondi couldn't ratify Halligan's invalid indictment after the statute of limitations had run.
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T18:27:40.685Z
The judge did NOT say that a future U.S. Attorney is prohibited from bringing a new, valid indictment within the six-month grace period prescribed by law.
Exactly right: bsky.app/profile/brad...
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T18:28:11.017Z
There's at least an argument that this dismissal will give DOJ more time to bring new charges against Comey, and this time to avoid the landmines it seems to have stepped on during its first attempt.
— Brad Heath (@bradheath.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T18:08:08.355Z
18 U.S.C. § 3288 grants six months to re-charge after an indictment is dismissed "for any reason."
leftstreet
(38,580 posts)In It to Win It
(12,133 posts)leftstreet
(38,580 posts)bucolic_frolic
(53,507 posts)Raven123
(7,358 posts)An incredible injustice to defendants who incur expensive legal fees. There should be some parameters for do-overs, especially in this Laurel and Hardy do lawyering administration.
snowybirdie
(6,505 posts)Doesn't that mean they can't reindict?
MarineCombatEngineer
(17,304 posts)snowybirdie
(6,505 posts)I misread.
Wiz Imp
(8,422 posts)so Halligan was appointed illegally to to it. That has now failed, so they need to find someone else who would be willing to try to bring an indictment. I have serious doubts they'll be able to find anyone.