The judge’s ruling centered not on the allegations themselves but on the legitimacy of the prosecutor who brought the charges. According to the court, the special prosecutor was appointed improperly by the Justice Department, rendering all actions taken under that appointment legally invalid.

The charges had been initiated at the urging of President Trump, who repeatedly accused both Comey and Letitia James of abusing their authority and engaging in politically motivated investigations against him and his allies. The appointment of the special prosecutor was widely viewed as part of Trump’s broader push to hold the two officials legally accountable.

In the judge’s opinion, however, the DOJ failed to follow the statutory requirements needed to authorize a special prosecutor. The court emphasized that bypassing these procedures violates both federal regulations and constitutional safeguards that govern prosecutorial authority.

Because the prosecutor’s appointment was deemed unlawful, the judge found that every decision stemming from it — including indictments, subpoenas, and investigative actions — had to be vacated. As a result, the cases against both Comey and James could not proceed.

Legal analysts say the ruling delivers a significant blow to the Justice Department and raises questions about how such an appointment was approved internally. Several experts noted that the decision could spark broader internal reviews of DOJ procedure and oversight.

For Comey and Letitia James, the dismissal marks a dramatic reversal in what had appeared to be a serious legal challenge. Both had previously maintained their innocence and characterized the charges as political retaliation driven by the Trump administration.

In the wake of the ruling, representatives for both officials issued statements welcoming the decision. They argued that the court’s findings validated their claims that the prosecutions were flawed from the beginning and lacked proper legal grounding.

Meanwhile, critics of the dismissal — including several of Trump’s congressional allies — expressed outrage, insisting that the judge’s ruling shields powerful officials from accountability. They promised to pursue other avenues to investigate Comey and James, including potential congressional action.

The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it intends to appeal the decision. For now, the sweeping dismissal leaves both cases effectively dead and adds yet another controversial chapter to the long-running political and legal battles surrounding the Trump era.