Who is Lindsey Halligan?published at 19:13 GMT
19:13 GMT
Image source, Getty Images
The judge’s ruling today centres on the appointment of Lindsey Halligan to the role of interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Judge Cameron Currie says Halligan was not legally appointed.
Halligan was one of President Trump’s former defence lawyers, and took on the position at Trump’s direction.
The person who used to have that role was Erik Siebert. He resigned under pressure from President Trump after his investigation into James failed to bring criminal charges. Trump had told reporters: “I want him out”.
Soon after taking office, Halligan brought the Comey case to a grand jury, which agreed there was enough evidence to prosecute.
Trump quickly threw his support behind Halligan, saying he was confident she can “get things moving”.
Comey’s defence team had taken issue with the legality of Halligan’s quick appointment to the role of interim US attorney, a process through which she circumvented congressional approval.
Prior to her current role, Halligan had been part of a White House effort to remove “improver ideology” from the Smithsonian Institution and its museums. She has no previous prosecution experience.