A federal judge on Monday dismissed the criminal charges filed against former FBI Director James Comey, ruling that the interim U.S. attorney who secured the indictment was unlawfully appointed.

U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie issued the decision, marking a major legal victory for Comey, who has long argued that the prosecution was politically motivated and driven by former President Donald Trump’s attempts to target perceived opponents.

Judge Currie’s ruling centered on the appointment of Lindsey Halligan, who oversaw the indictment as interim U.S. attorney. The court found that Halligan’s position was not lawfully authorized, rendering the indictment invalid. In response, the Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision and may seek a stay to prevent the dismissal from taking effect while the case is reviewed.

Despite Monday’s ruling, the legal battle is far from over. Comey’s defense team has filed several additional motions pushing for the indictment to be thrown out permanently. They argue the prosecution is both vindictive and selective, claiming Comey was unfairly singled out for political reasons. A separate decision on those arguments remains pending.

Credit: CBS News