"Catch me up: Halligan departed nearly two months after U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie ruled her appointment unconstitutional and after judges publicly questioned her authority in blistering orders. The ruling torpedoed indictments against ex-FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. While the government appealed the ruling, it never sought a stay. Yet Halligan kept using the title, and judges repeatedly struck "United States Attorney" from her filings and questioned her authority."
"Halligan's response, co-signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Blanche, accused the court of trying to "cudgel the Executive Branch into conforming its legal position" in "a gross abuse of power." Novak's rebuke was scathing: End "this charade" of Halligan "masquerading as" U.S. attorney in "direct defiance of binding court orders." The DOJ's "vitriol," he wrote, was "more appropriate for a cable news talk show.""
""They're not out there trying to support their own political philosophies. They're trying to do their job.""
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized clashes with so-called "rogue activist judges" as a "war." A retired district judge rejected that label, emphasizing judges are performing their duties. U.S. Attorney Halligan left after a judge ruled her appointment unconstitutional and after judges publicly questioned her authority. That ruling nullified indictments against James Comey and Letitia James. The government appealed but did not seek a stay; Halligan nevertheless continued using the title and judges struck that designation from filings. Legal scholars called the refusal to step back an insult to the judiciary and warned it could harm other cases. A judge ordered the DOJ to explain the defiance, the DOJ accused the court of abusing power, and the judge sharply rebuked the department for what he called a charade and inappropriate vitriol, stressing courts must ensure attorneys appearing are properly authorized.
Read at Axios
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