Judge Orders DOJ to Return Evidence in Comey Case: A Temporary Setback

A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors must return seized evidence from Daniel Richman in the dismissed case against former FBI Director James Comey. While the U.S. Department of Justice can seek a new warrant, the decision represents a temporary setback for efforts to prosecute Comey.

A federal judge has ordered prosecutors to return evidence seized from Daniel Richman, a critical figure in the dismissed case against former FBI Director James Comey. This decision comes as a temporary setback for the Department of Justice, which has been pursuing Comey, one of President Trump's critics.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that while files taken from Richman must be returned, a copy can be held by the court if the prosecutors decide to seek a new warrant. The judge found the seizure of Richman's files unreasonable, emphasizing the need for a warrant to use such materials in future investigations.

Richman's legal opposition stemmed from his contention that evidence was improperly seized during a 2019-2020 probe. Although the probe ended without charges, the DOJ can still utilize the materials if a future warrant is obtained. The case against Comey, dismissed last month, faced additional setbacks due to the unlawful appointment of a U.S. attorney in Virginia.

(With inputs from agencies.)