Justice Department and Prosecutor Clash with Judge Over Comey Case

A legal battle is heating up between the Justice Department, a U. S. Attorney, and a federal judge over the case against former FBI Director James Comey. The case, which seems to be in trouble, has led to some strong words being exchanged. U. S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan and other DOJ officials are not happy with Judge Michael Nachmanoff. They say he was unfair and unprofessional during a recent court hearing. Halligan mentioned that the judge called her a "puppet, " which she says is not true and doesn't change the facts of the case. The judge's comments came during a discussion about whether Halligan was acting on orders from President Donald Trump. Judge Nachmanoff asked Comey's lawyer if that was their argument. The lawyer responded by saying that Halligan did what she was told, as the president has the power to direct prosecutions. Comey was charged in September with lying to Congress. The charges came after Trump replaced the previous U. S. Attorney with Halligan, who had no prosecutorial experience. Trump also publicly pushed for the prosecution of Comey and other political opponents. During the hearing, Comey's lawyer argued that Trump was manipulating the justice system. They said this was a serious violation of constitutional principles. Halligan also testified that the grand jury that indicted Comey only reviewed part of the final indictment. This case has raised questions about the independence of the justice system and the influence of the president. It's a complex legal situation that continues to unfold.