Randall Eliason

The career people knew better. I think Halligan was happy to do it.

And yet, they did.

IF this DOJ were smart, they'd let the Comey case go. It's a dog case anyway, and then the judge won't have to issue another opinion w/ findings about all the misconduct in the grand jury investigation.

That's if they were smart. So of course they will do the opposite - appeal and attack the judge.

The way they charged the case, that's correct, at least to some charges. The statute of limitations will not have run for her. It could be re-indicted once there is a validly appointed U.S. Attorney in that office.

Although this judge doesn't rule on it (it's not properly before her), this opinion effectively finds that re-indicting Comey will be barred by the statute of limitations. (See footnote 21).

Happy Thanksgiving to James Comey and Letitia James.

Opinion | A Victorian-era cannibalism case poses a simple but profound question “The custom of the sea” ended with a landmark conviction in Britain after a shipwreck.

I remember studying this case on the first day of my first-year criminal law class. And my professor's name was Richard Parker - the same name as the cabin boy who ended up as the main course on the lifeboat.

wapo.st/3X9D6cF

It's important to know that the deliberations and vote by the grand jury are not transcribed - they are 100% secret, with no court reporter. So there's no way to verify what the first vote was, other than the foreperson's recollection. That's why we insist the GJ vote on the actual indictment.

Somehow I think "Halliganizing" is going to end up meaning something else . . . .

Some potential witnesses, such as the government attorneys who were appearing before Boasberg, may need to take the 5th.

Judge Boasberg says he will proceed to fact-finding on whether to hold govt in contempt for sending people to El Salvador against his order on 3/15/25. Preliminarily wants to hear from whistleblower Erez Reuveni & DOJ's Drew Ensign. Will let parties advise how to proceed in writing by Monday.

Not really incredible - this is a well-known case among prosecutors. In fact the process of re-drafting an indictment to eliminate excess counts or language and then bringing it back to the grand jury for a vote is called "Gaitherizing."

This case is well-known to D.C. prosecutors. In fact, the process of taking an indictment where a portion has been rejected, re-drafting it, and presenting the amended version to the grand jury for a vote is called "Gaitherizing."

The Comey Prosecution is Imploding Corruption meets incompetence at Pam Bondi's DOJ

"Grand jury practice is a specialized area . . . The idea that Halligan, with no relevant experience, could just jump in and indict a major criminal case on her own without screwing it up required an astonishing combination of arrogance and ignorance."

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

That's game over. The Constitution requires every felony to be charged by vote of a grand jury.

And due the statute of limitations, the government should not be able to bring the case again.

The Comey Prosecution is Imploding Corruption meets incompetence at Pam Bondi's DOJ

As the great @annabower.bsky.social is reporting today, the government has now admitted the current 2-count Comey indictment was never actually voted on by the grand jury - a possibility I discussed here.

This case is imploding even faster than I expected.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

Wow.

Who could have predicted that if you put someone with zero experience in charge of the grand jury proceeding in a major case she might screw it up?

The Comey Prosecution is Imploding Corruption meets incompetence at Pam Bondi's DOJ

My latest on Sidebars: the Comey prosecution is falling apart on several fronts. It's extremely unlikely the case ever makes it to trial.

Corruption meets incompetence at Pam Bondi's DOJ.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-comey-...

Reminds me of the old joke: What do they call someone who graduates at the bottom of their medical school class? "Doctor."

Judge says possible errors by Lindsey Halligan could imperil Comey case In a rare move, the judge ordered prosecutors to hand over records of the grand jury proceeding to the former FBI director’s lawyers.

Halligan suggested to the grand jury that Comey might have to testify to explain his innocence.

Unbelievable. Even a lawyer with zero prosecutorial experience like Halligan should know about little things like the 5th Amendment.

This case likely gets tossed out.

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Contempt proceedings potentially could include as a defendant the Third Circuit's newest judge, Emil Bove.

They've already said that, actually.

NEW: The Nevada Supreme Court has revived the criminal case against the Trump 2020 fake electors, ruling that AG Ford was correct to bring the case in Clark County. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Trump Ramps Up Pressure on G.O.P. to Thwart Epstein Vote

I don't understand the claim the petition would be "dead on arrival" in the Senate even if it passes the House. Sounds like up to 100 House R's may support it. Are the Senate R's really going to be almost unanimous in blocking the release? Very dangerous for them.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...

Legislative experts, serious question: this assumes Johnson will abide by the House rules. What if he just refuses to bring it up? What would be the mechanism to enforce it?

Good for the jury - it's gratifying that this case has mustard so much public support.

The arc of history is a foot-long, but it bends towards justice.

Trump's Assault on the Justice System Continues Punish your enemies, protect your friends - Part II

My latest on Sidebars: Trump continues to undermine the rule of law by prosecuting his enemies and rewarding his friends. But some guardrails and reasons for hope still remain.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/trumps-ass...

Called it, unfortunately - although he received "only" a commutation, not a pardon (yet).

Santos Is Released After Trump Commutes His Sentence

Breaking: from prison, former NJ Senator Bob Menendez announces he has switched parties to become a Republican; praises Trump's genius and compassion.

#satire

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...