A federal judge has dealt a fresh blow to the Justice Department’s stalled case tied to former FBI Director James Comey, ordering prosecutors to return evidence seized from one of Comey’s closest allies—while still leaving the door open for the government to try again.
In a ruling handed down in Washington, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly instructed federal prosecutors to return materials taken from Daniel Richman, a law professor and longtime confidant of Comey who previously served as his attorney. Richman had argued that the government improperly seized his files during an earlier investigation.
While the judge ordered the immediate return of the evidence, she also permitted the court to retain a copy of the materials under strict supervision. That safeguard would apply only if prosecutors attempt to obtain a new, legally valid warrant for the same records, according to reporting cited over the weekend.
The ruling represents a temporary but significant setback for the Justice Department as it weighs whether to revive efforts against Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017 during Trump’s first term. Though the criminal case was dismissed earlier, officials have repeatedly signaled that the matter may not be over.
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