A federal judge has raised concerns about the completeness of transcripts from the grand jury proceedings in the case against former FBI Director James Comey. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie indicated that parts of the transcript appear to be missing, which has initiated a legal dispute over the authority of the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan.
Judge’s Observations on Transcript Completeness
During a hearing, Judge Currie mentioned that the absence of a court reporter or the failure of the reporter to take notes could have resulted in incomplete documentation. This issue is critical as Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously reviewed the transcript for insights into the prosecutor’s authority in securing the indictment against Comey.
Lindsey Halligan’s Response
In response to the judge’s comments about the missing records, Halligan filed a declaration asserting that there are no missing minutes in the grand jury’s transcript. She maintained that the time she spent with the jurors is accurately reflected in the documents.
Details of the Grand Jury Proceedings
Halligan specifically addressed the time gap identified by the court. This gap occurred between her exit from the grand jury room at 4:28 PM ET on September 25 and the announcement of the indictments at 6:40 PM ET. She clarified:
- There was no interaction with grand jury members during this interval.
- The time represented the grand jury’s private deliberations, conducted in secrecy.
Halligan’s reaffirmation of the transcript’s integrity aims to clarify any misconceptions regarding the prosecution’s process in the Comey case. This discourse plays an essential role in determining the future proceedings and the legitimacy of the ongoing legal challenges.
