A magistrate judge expressed confusion and surprise at some points during a Thursday night court session when a federal grand jury returned James Comey's indictment.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala expressed confusion and surprise at some points during the seven-minute court session when a federal grand jury impaneled in Alexandria, Virginia, returned the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey Thursday night.

According to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by CBS News, Judge Vaala asked the newly named interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan — a former Trump personal lawyer — why there were two versions of the indictment.

A majority of the grand jury that reviewed the Comey matter voted not to charge him with one of the three counts presented by prosecutors, according to a form that was signed by the grand jury’s foreperson and filed in court. He was indicted on two other counts — making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding — after 14 of 23 jurors voted in favor of them, the foreperson told the judge.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    64·
    25 days ago

    I did not see the other one. I don’t know where that came from," Halligan told the judge.

    Vaala responded, “You didn’t see it?” And Halligan again told her, “I did not see that one.”

    Vaala seemed surprised: “So your office didn’t prepare the indictment that they —”

    Halligan then replied, “No, no, no — I — no, I prepared three counts. I only signed the one — the two-count (indictment). I don’t know which one with three counts you have in your hands.”

    “Okay. It has your signature on it,” Vaala told Halligan, who responded, “Okay. Well.”

    Yeah I lied. Again. In court. Which is cool, right.

    • NABDad@lemmy.worldEnglish
      171·
      25 days ago

      “Okay. It has your signature on it,” Vaala told Halligan, who responded, “Okay. Well.”

      Yeah I lied.

      Don’t jump to conclusions. In this particular case, it seems far more likely that she is so incompetent and stupid that she doesn’t even know what she’s signing.