Dear listeners,
The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James were both dismissed, without prejudice, on the grounds that former insurance attorney Lindsey Halligan was never properly appointed as an interim US Attorney. Trump’s Justice Department has options: it can appeal, and/or it can try to re-indict the cases with a real prosecutor this time. But both options have problems. Grand juries may balk at re-indicting (indeed, after we recorded, there were news reports that a grand jury has already no-billed the attempt to re-indict James) and the case against Comey has a statute of limitations problem. As for an appeal, the Trump administration keeps losing across different courts on these appointment shenanigans, and even this Supreme Court might not save his efforts on this specific subject.
That conversation is for free listeners. For paid subscribers this week, we also address:
A rare favorable ruling for the Trump administration from Judge James Boasberg.
Eric Swalwell’s lawsuit against Bill Pulte, who wears several hats as Federal Housing Finance Administration head, Personal Mortgage-Fraud Hunter for Donald J. Trump, and personal hate object for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. And now, defendant!
Peter Skandalakis’s tortured-but-ultimately-convincing, argument that the Georgia RICO case is terminal and should be taken off life support.
Megan Thee Stallion’s “big” ($59,000) win in her defamation lawsuit against a live-streamer — and why she’s not likely to get much in attorney’s fees on top of that.
Probation for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, and
A sharply-worded minute order from Judge Amy Berman Jackson trying to ensure that she won’t be the only long-suffering person around these parts.
We hope you enjoy the episode,
Josh
