They failed at getting Leticia, now Trump's gonna take a swing at Comey
Federal prosecutors are racing to bring charges before the statute of limitations expires next week.
Federal prosecutors are expected to seek an indictment of former FBI Director James Comey in the coming days, after the top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia — who opposed bringing charges — recently resigned under pressure from President Donald Trump, three sources familiar with the matter told MSNBC.
Prosecutors are rushing against the clock, before the statute of limitations involving one charge believed to be central to the case expires within the week. Comey famously refused to pledge his loyalty to Trump during his first administration.
The full extent of the charges being prepared is unclear, but the sources believe at least one element of the indictment — if it goes forward — will accuse him of lying to Congress in his testimony on Sept. 30, 2020, about whether he authorized a leak of information. The five-year statute of limitations on that charge would lapse Tuesday.
Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment.
The same U.S. attorney’s office is also investigating mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Two people familiar with the matter told MSNBC they believe James will be charged in that case, but they were not certain of the timing.
The sources described a fluid situation that could change for any number of reasons.
The Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, was forced out last week after it became clear he opposed bringing the case against James, according to multiple people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive matter.
Siebert was also not in favor of charging Comey, two people familiar with the matter said.
The new U.S. attorney, sworn in this week, is Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump defense lawyer and White House lawyer who has never been a prosecutor.
Among the elements being examined in the Comey case, the sources say, is an exchange he had with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the FBI’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia on 2016 election interference.
Cruz reprised a question Comey had been asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: “Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?”
Cruz said Andrew McCabe, who was the deputy director under Comey, had leaked information to The Wall Street Journal about the FBI’s investigation into the Clinton Foundation at Comey’s direction.
Cruz reprised a question Comey had been asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: “Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?”
Cruz said Andrew McCabe, who was the deputy director under Comey, had leaked information to The Wall Street Journal about the FBI’s investigation into the Clinton Foundation at Comey’s direction.
www.msnbc.com
Federal prosecutors are racing to bring charges before the statute of limitations expires next week.
Federal prosecutors are expected to seek an indictment of former FBI Director James Comey in the coming days, after the top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia — who opposed bringing charges — recently resigned under pressure from President Donald Trump, three sources familiar with the matter told MSNBC.
Prosecutors are rushing against the clock, before the statute of limitations involving one charge believed to be central to the case expires within the week. Comey famously refused to pledge his loyalty to Trump during his first administration.
The full extent of the charges being prepared is unclear, but the sources believe at least one element of the indictment — if it goes forward — will accuse him of lying to Congress in his testimony on Sept. 30, 2020, about whether he authorized a leak of information. The five-year statute of limitations on that charge would lapse Tuesday.
Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment.
The same U.S. attorney’s office is also investigating mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Two people familiar with the matter told MSNBC they believe James will be charged in that case, but they were not certain of the timing.
The sources described a fluid situation that could change for any number of reasons.
The Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, was forced out last week after it became clear he opposed bringing the case against James, according to multiple people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive matter.
Siebert was also not in favor of charging Comey, two people familiar with the matter said.
The new U.S. attorney, sworn in this week, is Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump defense lawyer and White House lawyer who has never been a prosecutor.
Among the elements being examined in the Comey case, the sources say, is an exchange he had with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the FBI’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia on 2016 election interference.
Cruz reprised a question Comey had been asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: “Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?”
Cruz said Andrew McCabe, who was the deputy director under Comey, had leaked information to The Wall Street Journal about the FBI’s investigation into the Clinton Foundation at Comey’s direction.
Cruz reprised a question Comey had been asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: “Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?”
Cruz said Andrew McCabe, who was the deputy director under Comey, had leaked information to The Wall Street Journal about the FBI’s investigation into the Clinton Foundation at Comey’s direction.
Former FBI Director James Comey facing imminent indictment threat
Federal prosecutors are racing to bring charges before the statute of limitations expires next week.
www.msnbc.com
