A federal judge on Wednesday criticized the Justice Department's prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey , saying he was concerned by the department's "highly unusual" handling of the case by moving to "indict first, investigate second."

Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick in Alexandria, Virginia, also ordered the Justice Department to turn over all grand jury evidence and other materials to Comey's legal team by close of business Thursday, underlining his apparent criticism of federal prosecutors' actions in the case. The Justice Department on Thursday appealed Fitzpatrick's decision, writing in a court filing: "The order exceeds the scope of the Magistrate Judge's delegated authority and was entered without the necessary findings that the defendant has shown particularized a

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