BREAKING: A federal judge has thrown out the criminal indictment of James Comey, ruling that Trump-installed prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was illegally appointed and had no lawful authority to bring the case. The court found her actions violated federal law and the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.

A federal court on Monday delivered a stunning legal blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, dismissing the high-profile indictment in its entirety.

In a sharply worded decision, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Markham ruled that special prosecutor Lindsey Halligan — appointed directly by President Donald Trump without Senate confirmation — had “no valid constitutional or statutory authority” to initiate criminal charges.

The judge concluded that Halligan’s appointment bypassed long-established laws governing federal prosecutors and violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which requires that such officials be properly nominated and confirmed.

Because Halligan’s authority was “unlawful from the start,” the judge declared every action taken by her office — including the indictment of Comey — legally void.

Legal analysts say the ruling not only ends the case against Comey but could also undercut other investigations launched under Halligan’s tenure. The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision.

Comey’s legal team celebrated the ruling, calling it “a complete vindication and a reminder that no president can rewrite the Constitution to suit political aims.”