Comey Defeats Trump In Hearing

Since the start of the controversial case, prosecutors have been accused of rushing the indictment of former FBI Director Comey while also attempting to delay turning over evidence to the defense.

Following weeks of disputes, the judge overseeing the case directed prosecutors to promptly provide all discovery materials — government evidence and information that Comey’s lawyers are entitled to see so they can prepare for trial — delivering an early setback to the DOJ in the case critics claim was ordered up by President Donald Trump as an act of revenge against one of his foes.

The DOJ submitted a motion requesting two separate discovery deadlines: the first for issues related to motions disputing the appointment of the U.S. attorney who brought the case and claims of vindictive or selective prosecution, and the second for all remaining materials.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys N. Tyler Lemons and Gabriel J. Díaz claimed that “good-faith discussions were attempted by the parties, [but] the parties were unable to agree on a joint discovery order” and argued “two discovery deadlines are appropriate in this case.”

Comey’s lawyers — Jessica N. Carmichael and Patrick J. Fitzgerald — opposed the request, arguing the government should promptly hand over relevant materials. U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff ruled in favor of the defense.

President Donald Trump, who fired James Comey as FBI director in 2017 about four months into the commander-in-chief’s first term, has claimed the prosecution “is about justice, not revenge.”