Lead Federal Prosecutor Withdraws From James Comey Case Over Seashells Post
Matthew Petracca, the lead federal prosecutor in the case against former FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram photo of seashells, has withdrawn from the prosecution, according to a court filing. Petracca, who had been the only prosecutor assigned to the matter, was replaced by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo, and the Justice Department gave no explanation for the change.
The case stems from a seashells photo that the Justice Department alleges was a threat against Trump. It is the second attempt to indict Comey after an earlier case over alleged false statements to Congress was dismissed because the prosecutor had been improperly appointed; Comey's lawyers are expected to seek dismissal of the current case before trial.
From the sources (6 posts)
@theinsiderpaperBREAKING: Federal prosecutor leading the James Comey indictment over his seashells post resigns from the case, NBC News reports
@polltracker2024NBC News: Lead federal prosecutor in James Comey seashells photo case steps aside Matthew Petracca, a former Republican county committeeman, was the rookie federal prosecutor who brought the highly criticized case to a federal grand jury.
@justthenewsLead prosecutor in Comey's seashell photo is being replaced
@yasharRT @NBCNews: BREAKING: Federal prosecutor leading the James Comey indictment over his seashells post resigns from the case.
@barnes_lawRT @NBCNews: BREAKING: Federal prosecutor leading the James Comey indictment over his seashells post resigns from the case.
@marionawfal🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: The lead prosecutor in the James Comey seashells case has withdrawn from the prosecution... Matthew Petracca, the lone prosecutor assigned to former FBI Director James Comey's case over an Instagram photo of seashells the DOJ