{"id":2519272,"date":"2025-12-09T14:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-fights-major-obstacle-to-bring-new-case-against-comey\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:40:29","slug":"doj-fights-major-obstacle-to-bring-new-case-against-comey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-fights-major-obstacle-to-bring-new-case-against-comey\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ fights major obstacle to bring new case against Comey"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-fights-major-obstacle-to-bring-new-case-against-comey%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2519272&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively challenging a federal judge&#8217;s order that limits its access to evidence crucial for potentially reinstating criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey. The DOJ accuses Daniel Richman, Comey&#8217;s longtime associate and former attorney, of using a legal maneuver aimed at obstructing the renewed examination by requesting the return or destruction of seized materials. According to the DOJ,Richman&#8217;s motion is a strategic attempt to suppress evidence rather than a genuine effort to recover property,as the government only holds copies of his data. The DOJ further argues that courts cannot prevent federal investigations or prosecutions and that Richman&#8217;s timing-years after the initial Arctic Haze leak investigation closed-signals an intent to derail a possible renewed prosecution of Comey. The original indictment against Comey was dismissed without prejudice, allowing for potential reindictment. The judge overseeing the case has indicated she will carefully review the DOJ&#8217;s claims and requires a filtering process to protect privileged or unrelated facts before access to the evidence is granted. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-affirms-trump-has-some-authority-to-pause-spending-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Judge affirms Trump has some authority to pause spending - Washington Examiner\">temporary restraining order remains<\/a> in effect for now, limiting the DOJ&#8217;s ability to pursue charges in the immediate term, which the government views as a significant obstacle.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ fights major obstacle to bring new case against Comey<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2412967\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"h-the-justice-department-on-tuesday-mounted-a-forceful-challenge-to-a-federal-judge-s-order-restricting-its-access-to-evidence-it-views-as-essential-to-recharging-former-fbi-director-james-comey-accusing-comey-s-longtime-associate-daniel-richman-of-using-a-calculated-legal-maneuver-to-obstruct-a-renewed-criminal-case\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> on Tuesday mounted a forceful challenge to a federal judge&rsquo;s order restricting its access to evidence it views as essential to recharging former FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comey\/\">James Comey<\/a>, accusing Comey&rsquo;s longtime associate and one-time attorney Daniel Richman of using a calculated legal maneuver to obstruct a renewed criminal case.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287269\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287269.13.0.pdf\">20-page filing<\/a>, government attorneys urged U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to dissolve the temporary restraining order she imposed over the weekend, telling the court the order has already &ldquo;effectively enjoined the government from investigating and potentially prosecuting Comey.&rdquo; They argued that Richman&rsquo;s petition for the return or destruction of his seized records is not a legitimate property request but a deliberate attempt to derail a continuing criminal matter in violation of well-established precedent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3912061\/aclu-sues-doj-immediate-release-legal-opinion-venezuelan-drug-boat-strikes\/\">ACLU sues DOJ for &lsquo;immediate&rsquo; release of legal opinion on alleged drug boat strikes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3910902\/doj-setbacks-reviving-letitia-james-comey-indictments\/\">DOJ faces setbacks in road to reviving Comey and James indictments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3911752\/judge-allows-doj-release-ghislaine-maxwell-grand-jury-transcripts\/\">Judge allows DOJ to release Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcripts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former FBI director James Comey testifies before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 8, 2017.  (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The government opened its filing with a stark assertion about Richman&rsquo;s true purpose, writing that his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/rules\/frcp\/rule_41\">Rule 41 motion<\/a> &ldquo;is a strategic tool to obstruct the investigation and potential prosecution of James Comey,&rdquo; and that granting it &ldquo;would have the effect of serving as a suppression ruling if Comey is indicted again.&rdquo; They warned that &ldquo;neither request is legally appropriate,&rdquo; because federal courts &ldquo;cannot enjoin the Government from engaging in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jake-tapper-notes-hunter-biden-investigation-lara-trump-fires-glad-you-finally-figured-that-out\/\" title=\"Jake Tapper Notes Hunter Biden ...; Lara Trump Fires: \u2018Glad You Finally Figured That Out\u2019\">federal criminal investigation<\/a> or a future prosecution.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>DOJ attorneys said that despite Richman&rsquo;s claims in court, he is not attempting to recover anything at all. According to the government&rsquo;s position, &ldquo;Richman does not genuinely want any property back&mdash;after all, the government merely has copies of his data.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The government highlighted that Richman instead demanded deletion of those copies and an order prohibiting &ldquo;any further use&rdquo; of the material, confirming for the DOJ that the real aim is &ldquo;to prevent the government from using the evidence in criminal proceedings.&rdquo; They told the court that such an outcome is &ldquo;an impermissible collateral motion to suppress&rdquo; dressed up as a civil proceeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>DOJ attorneys also leaned heavily on the timing of Richman&rsquo;s request. They noted that Richman offered &ldquo;no explanation&rdquo; for why he waited years after the Arctic Haze leak investigation closed in 2021 before seeking the destruction of the same data, arguing that the silence &ldquo;makes perfect sense once one recognizes that this motion is in substance a suppression motion directed at the Comey prosecution if Comey is reindicted.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ also emphasized that the original indictment was dismissed last month without prejudice and that Richman&rsquo;s suggestion that the case is time-barred is &ldquo;flatly mistaken,&rdquo; citing the statute that permits reindictments when a prior indictment is voided.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Richman, who served as a special government attorney from 2015 to February 2017, is a pivotal figure in the Comey investigation because he not only worked closely with Comey during his tenure at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a> but also briefly represented him after his firing in May 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Internal FBI records from the earlier Arctic Haze leak investigation indicated Comey used Richman as an outside channel to relay information to the media during periods of damaging coverage tied to the former Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\">Hillary Clinton<\/a> email case and the early President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>-Russia investigation. Any seized emails, texts, and device data could directly relate to whether Comey told the truth when he testified under oath in 2020 that he had &ldquo;never authorized&rdquo; anyone to serve as an anonymous source, the claim at the center of the now-dismissed indictment against the former FBI director.<\/p>\n<p>The government&rsquo;s latest filing also contains a direct rebuttal to Richman&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fourth-amendment\/\">Fourth Amendment<\/a> arguments. Government attorneys wrote that even if seized material were later challenged, &ldquo;Rule 41(g) is not intended to deny to the United States the use of evidence permitted by the Fourth Amendment,&rdquo; nor does it &ldquo;constitute a statutory expansion of the exclusionary rule.&rdquo; They added that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> has made clear that &ldquo;even the presentation of such evidence to a grand jury wouldn&rsquo;t be a sufficient basis to dismiss an indictment,&rdquo; signaling that the restraining order has imposed a more extreme remedy than the Constitution allows.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kollar-Kotelly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287269\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287269.14.0_1.pdf\">responded on Tuesday afternoon<\/a> with a new directive signaling she intends to scrutinize the government&rsquo;s claims before lifting any restrictions. She told the government to file a request by midday on Wednesday if it believes it needs to access Richman&rsquo;s seized materials to respond to his petition in full.<\/p>\n<p>The judge added she will require any such request to include a proposed filter mechanism to screen out privileged or nonresponsive content, noting that Richman contends the records include &ldquo;a significant quantum of privileged information involving multiple clients&rdquo; as well as personal material beyond the scope of the warrants.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She also underscored that the government had already acknowledged the need for a filter process in the prior Comey prosecution, where a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3889291\/judge-orders-doj-turn-over-grand-jury-materials-james-comey-missteps\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >magistrate judge raised concerns<\/a><\/a> about exposure to attorney-client material. She wrote that &ldquo;a filter protocol may also be warranted in this case&rdquo; and said Richman must receive an opportunity to assert privilege before any material is made available for government review.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3910902\/doj-setbacks-reviving-letitia-james-comey-indictments\/\">DOJ FACES SETBACKS IN ROAD TO REVIVING COMEY AND JAMES INDICTMENTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The temporary restraining order remains in place through the end of the week unless the judge lifts it earlier. Even that short window has constrained the department&rsquo;s timeline for seeking a new indictment, and the tone of Tuesday&rsquo;s filing makes clear the government views the restrictions as a direct threat to the revival of the Comey case.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ said the evidence Richman now seeks to wall off is plainly &ldquo;relevant to ongoing or contemplated investigations and prosecutions,&rdquo; and that depriving the DOJ of it at this stage would be unreasonable.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ challenges judge&#8217;s order blocking Comey case evidence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2519273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25281535222884.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[23264,7076,32869],"class_list":["post-2519272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-comey","tag-doj","tag-legal-battle"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25281535222884.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2519272"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519277,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519272\/revisions\/2519277"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}