JUDGE DELIVERS BOMBSHELL DECISION IN JAMES COMEY'S CASE - 'THE COURT FINDS...'
Judge Delivers First Big Decision in James Comey’s Case
A federal judge ruled Friday that outside groups and individuals will not be allowed to weigh in on the criminal case accusing former FBI Director James Comey of threatening President Donald Trump through a 2025 social media post.
U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan issued an order rejecting any attempts to file friend-of-the-court briefs, known legally as amicus curiae briefs, from organizations or individuals who are not directly involved in the case.
In her order, Flanagan said both sides are already adequately represented.
“Defendant and the government are ably represented by competent counsel,” she wrote.
The ruling limits participation in what has become one of the highest-profile criminal cases involving a former senior federal law enforcement official.
Friend-of-the-court briefs allow outside parties with an interest or expertise in a case to present legal arguments or policy perspectives for a judge’s consideration, even though they are not litigants.
Such filings are common before federal appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court but are used much less frequently in federal district courts.
Flanagan’s decision marks a different approach from another recent criminal case involving Comey.
In 2025, when Comey faced charges alleging he lied to Congress about leaks to the media, numerous outside organizations sought to participate by filing friend-of-the-court briefs.
Those filings came from groups that included former senior Justice Department officials, law professors, legal scholars, current and former members of Congress, retired federal judges and former U.S. attorneys.
That prosecution ultimately ended after just two months when a judge ruled the prosecutor who obtained the indictment had been unlawfully appointed, resulting in the dismissal of the case.
Legal experts say Flanagan’s latest order is unusual but not unprecedented.
Scott Holmes, a law professor at North Carolina Central University, said district court judges often have practical reasons for limiting outside participation.
Unlike appellate courts, which primarily decide legal questions, federal trial courts must manage busy calendars while moving cases efficiently toward trial.
Holmes suggested allowing outside briefs in a nationally watched case involving a former FBI director could invite an overwhelming number of filings.
“I can imagine that the court is worried about the floodgates opening, and everybody who wants to weigh in on this does,” Holmes said.
At the same time, Holmes noted that friend-of-the-court briefs can sometimes provide valuable legal analysis and research that may assist judges confronting complex legal issues.
“It would be nice if the court would be willing to read really educated folks who have a real interest in the court getting it right and offering a lot of research,” he said.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, also described Flanagan’s ruling as uncommon.
He said judges frequently find such briefs useful because they often come from individuals with specialized expertise or substantial experience related to the legal issues before the court.
“They would be people who would have expertise about the issues that are raised and probably feel strongly about them,” Tobias said.
While Flanagan’s order does not affect the merits of the prosecution itself, it narrows the voices that will be heard as the case moves forward.
Instead of receiving legal arguments from outside organizations or experts, the court will rely exclusively on the filings submitted by prosecutors and Comey’s defense team.
The underlying criminal case centers on allegations that Comey threatened the president through a social media post made in 2025. Comey has denied wrongdoing, The News And Observer reported.
Friday’s order represents an early procedural ruling, but it signals the court intends to keep the litigation focused on the arguments presented by the parties directly involved rather than inviting broader public participation in a case already attracting national attention.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
BREAKING:💔Trump Issues Statement Regarding Health of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell Health Update: Speculation Continues Amid Limited Public Information
Weeks after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized following a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C. home, questions persist about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition and his ability to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
McConnell was reportedly found unconscious on or around June 14, with initial accounts indicating CPR was administered. His office has released few details since then, describing him as receiving “excellent care,” continuing to improve, and working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters remotely while in recovery.
Later updates from McConnell’s team clarified that the senator suffered a fall, was briefly unconscious, and was treated for a mild case of pneumonia. He has since moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and stated he does not plan an immediate return to the Senate floor.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
White House: President Trump recently said he had “no idea” about McConnell’s current status and had not spoken with him since the hospitalization.
Kentucky Governor: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell requesting a full public update on his health, citing transparency obligations to constituents.
Senate Colleagues: Responses from fellow Republicans have been mixed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said early on that McConnell “sounded good” in a conversation. However, Sen. Mike Lee noted that many members remain uninformed about details.
The limited information has sparked online speculation and criticism, including unverified claims about his condition. McConnell’s office has pushed back against rumors, noting ongoing improvement.
Broader Context
This situation has renewed debate over health transparency for aging lawmakers. McConnell has a history of health challenges, including previous incidents like a concussion in 2023. As of mid-July 2026, he remains absent from the Senate as it resumes work, narrowing the Republican majority’s margin on key committees.
No official timeline for his return has been confirmed, and public frustration continues over the lack of recent visual updates or more detailed medical disclosures.
This remains a developing story. For the most current details, check official statements from Sen. McConnell’s office or major news outlets.
'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' DECLARED, TRUMP SURGES US TROOPS AFTER 'MASS CASUALTIES’
Over 500 Dead In Venezuela As Rescuers Race To Find Quake Victims
Rescuers scramble to reach survivors before the “golden window” to save people closes, as at least 589 people have died in Venezuela’s twin quakes.
The country is mired in a political and financial crisis. The second quake was the strongest in the country in more than a century.
Close to 3,000 people have been wounded, many more are missing, and others remain trapped under tons of rubble.
President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up help to Venezuela following Thursday’s quake.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
A Marine Corps general flew into Caracas on Thursday to help lead the US military’s earthquake relief effort in Venezuela, where, just six months ago, US special forces launched a deadly raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard is the senior Southern Command official on the ground.
The military said he is to “plan, coordinate, and direct the flow of rescue teams, equipment, and aid into the hardest-hit areas.”
US aircraft are flying search crews and supplies in, while State Department personnel are coordinating the broader response.
Southern Command, which directs US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it was “surging” forces to the region at the request of the interim government.
Relief teams from around the world are also mobilizing aid, and foreign aid pledges are pouring in.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez also praised the arrival of international assistance and emergency crews, saying, “We have saved dozens of lives.”
More than 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the double quake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
During a broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello said Caraballeda and Catia La Mar were the hardest-hit areas in the state and said 11,500 security personnel would be deployed to La Guaira on Friday to “guarantee peace.”
Venezuelan forces deployed to the area hit by Wednesday’s double earthquake are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In an interview granted to Venezuelan public television (VTV), the Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, stated that operations are being carried out with different machinery, such as percussion equipment that allows for the controlled breaking of concrete, with the hope of finding and rescuing more people alive.
Ramírez appealed to the public to let specialized civil protection teams do their job.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
Ramírez emphasized that the priority is “to save lives,” while efforts are also underway to restore basic services such as water and communications.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday it will permit “all transactions” with Venezuela “related to earthquake relief efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes only partial and temporary relief from restrictions from June 26 through October 23.
The general license allows the processing and transfer of funds on behalf of third-country individuals “to or from” Venezuela, as long as they support operations covered by the specific authorization.
Venezuelans are frustrated by the slow pace of the government’s rescue response in the immediate aftermath of the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” said Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
