A federal judge has temporarily blocked prosecutors from accessing materials from a key ally of James Comey, dealing a blow to the already challenging criminal case against the former FBI director.
Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor and Comey's attorney, sued the government in November, alleging unlawful access to his computer data. Prosecutors had relied on private communications between Comey and Richman to support charges that Comey lied to Congress about authorising leaks.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled on Saturday that the government likely violated Richman's Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. The order, effective until 12 December, prevents prosecutors from using the seized materials.
The case has faced multiple setbacks. A federal judge previously dismissed charges against Comey, citing improper appointment of the prosecutor. The Trump administration's justice department is expected to seek a re-indictment.
Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick noted in November that the government retained data from Richman's computer beyond the scope of original warrants and conducted a warrantless search this year, potentially accessing privileged attorney-client communications.
