The Comey Hearing: This Would Be Hilarious If It Weren’t So Scandalous

In its filing yesterday, the government did little to dispute the facts, arguing instead that if Halligan misled the jury, dismissal would be inappropriate unless the court found prejudice. That may be true in the abstract, but nothing about these errors feels harmless: The misstatements were grave, fundamental, and, given the grand jury’s already narrow votes, plainly consequential.

And on this score, another malefactor surfaces: Attorney General Pam Bondi. DOJ filings assert that Bondi reviewed the grand jury proceedings and materials and, on that basis, ratified both the indictment and Halligan’s authority. If so, she necessarily signed off on the very misstatements Judge Fitzpatrick highlighted. Her willingness to act as a shill for Halligan implicates her directly in the ethical and constitutional violations.

In short, and remarkably, the case looks even more ill fated, bungled, and corrupt than it did two short days ago. And that’s without accounting for the separate motion to dismiss on the grounds that Halligan’s appointment was invalid. The judge in that matter has said she will rule within the week.