U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Lindsey Vaala expressed confusion and shock at some factors throughout the seven-minute courtroom session when a federal grand jury impaneled in Alexandria, Virginia, returned the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey Thursday evening.
In accordance with a transcript of the proceedings obtained by CBS Information, Choose Vaala requested the newly named interim U.S. Legal professional Lindsey Halligan — a former Trump private lawyer — why there have been two variations of the indictment.
A majority of the grand jury that reviewed the Comey matter voted to not cost him with one of many three counts introduced by prosecutors, in line with a type that was signed by the grand jury’s foreperson and filed in courtroom. He was indicted on two different counts — making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional continuing — after 14 of 23 jurors voted in favor of them, the foreperson advised the decide.
However two variations of the indictment had been printed on the case docket: one with the dropped third rely, and one with out. The transcript reveals why this occurred.
“So this has by no means occurred earlier than. I have been handed two paperwork which might be within the Mr. Comey case which might be inconsistent with each other,” Vaala mentioned to Halligan. “There appears to be a discrepancy. They’re each signed by the (grand jury) foreperson.”
And he or she famous that one doc didn’t clearly point out what the grand jury had determined.
“The one that claims it is a failure to concur in an indictment, it does not say with respect to at least one rely,” Vaala mentioned. “It seems to be like they did not concur throughout all three counts, so I am a bit confused as to why I used to be handed two issues with the identical case quantity which might be inconsistent.”
Halligan initially responded that she hadn’t seen that model of the indictment.
“So I solely reviewed the one with the 2 counts that our workplace redrafted once we came upon concerning the two — two counts that had been true billed, and I signed that one. I didn’t see the opposite one. I do not know the place that got here from,” Halligan advised the decide.
Vaala responded, “You did not see it?” And Halligan once more advised her, “I didn’t see that one.”
Vaala appeared shocked: “So your workplace did not put together the indictment that they —”
Halligan then replied, “No, no, no — I — no, I ready three counts. I solely signed the one — the two-count (indictment). I do not know which one with three counts you might have in your arms.”
“Okay. It has your signature on it,” Vaala advised Halligan, who responded, “Okay. Properly.”
Vaala additionally famous that the courtroom session started unusually late, at 6:47 p.m. Thursday night, telling the grand jurors “I do not suppose we have ever met this late” as she thanked them for his or her service.
The fees towards Comey — which accuse him of mendacity in testimony he gave to the Senate in 2020 — mark an unprecedented step for the Justice Division, after President Trump publicly urged prosecutors to look into the ex-FBI chief that he fired in 2017 and sparred with for years.
In an uncommon transfer, Comey’s indictment was personally signed by Halligan, not a rank-and-file federal prosecutor. Halligan was sworn in on Monday, after days of upheaval within the U.S. lawyer’s workplace in Alexandria.
The previous head of the workplace, Erik Siebert, introduced his resignation on Friday following worries amongst his employees that he might be fired for failing to criminally cost one other Trump adversary, New York Legal professional Common Letitia James. A day later, Mr. Trump introduced Siebert had been fired, and posted a message suggesting Legal professional Common Pam Bondi ought to look into Comey, James and a 3rd longtime Trump foil, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.
Earlier than Comey was indicted, employees on the U.S. lawyer’s workplace circulated a memo that argued fees shouldn’t be introduced towards the previous FBI director, a Justice Division supply acquainted with the matter advised CBS Information.
Legal professional Common Pam Bondi praised Halligan in a publish on X Friday, writing that she “did an excellent job.”
contributed to this report.
