A US judge has found evidence of misconduct in how a federal prosecutor closely aligned with President Donald Trump secured criminal charges against former FBI boss James Comey.

Virginia-based US Magistrate Judge William Fitzgerald also ordered that grand jury materials be turned over to Mr Comey's defence lawyers.

Judge Fitzgerald found that Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed US attorney leading the case, may have made significant legal errors in presenting evidence and instructing grand jurors who were weighing whether to charge Mr Comey — mistakes that could have tainted the case.

"The record points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps, missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceeding," Judge

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