WASHINGTON >> A federal judge today dismissed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding that the U.S. Attorney hand-picked by President Donald Trump to bring the cases was unlawfully appointed, in a ruling that dealt a major blow to the Justice Department’s efforts to pursue perceived political enemies of the president.

The ruling throws out two cases Trump had publicly called for as he pressured Justice Department leaders to move against high-profile figures who had criticized him and led investigations into his conduct.

Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer to Trump, was named interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in September to take over both investigations despite having no previous prosecu

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