Karoline Leavitt vows Trump DOJ appeal, tells James Comey to ‘pump brakes on his victory lap’

Karoline Leavitt said James Comey shouldn’t celebrate the dismissal, insisting allegations still stand and the DOJ will appeal the ruling
PUBLISHED NOV 25, 2025
Karoline Leavitt warned James Comey after he thanked the judge for ending the case and called the prosecution incompetent under Donald Trump (Foxnews, Getty Images)
Karoline Leavitt warned James Comey after he thanked the judge for ending the case and called the prosecution incompetent under Donald Trump (Foxnews, Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: A federal judge may have tossed out the Trump administration’s criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says Comey shouldn’t celebrate yet.

She insists the allegations against him still stand and announced that the Trump Justice Department will appeal the judge’s decision.

Karoline Leavitt issues warning to James Comey

Karoline Leavitt issued a warning to former FBI Director James Comey on Monday, November 24. Appearing on Fox News’s 'The Story,' Leavitt reacted to a clip of Comey thanking the judge for ending the case, in which he said the prosecution showed “incompetence” and reflected what the Justice Department had become under Donald Trump.

James Comey attends Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
James Comey attends Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Leavitt pushed back. “Everybody knows that James Comey lied to Congress,” she said. “It’s as clear as day. And the judge took an unprecedented action to throw these cases out to shield James Comey and Letitia James of accountability based on a technical ruling.”

She added, “And we believe the attorney in this case, Lindsay Halligan, is not only extremely qualified but she was, in fact, legally appointed. And I know the Department of Justice will be appealing this in very short order.”

Leavitt then offered Comey a warning: “Maybe James Comey should pump the brakes on his victory lap,” she said.  

James Comey case dismissed after judge questions legal authority

The federal judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the charges that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan filed after Donald Trump pushed the Justice Department to investigate his political opponents.

Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference following a verdict against former U.S. President Donald Trump in a civil fraud trial on February 16, 2024 in New York City. Justice Arthur Engoron ruled against the former president finding him liable for conspiring to manipulating his networth and fining him $335 million and imposing a three year ban from serving in top roles at any NY company. The judge also banned Eric and Donald Trump Jr. for two years as well as a fine of more than four million dollars. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference following a verdict against President Donald Trump in a civil fraud trial on February 16, 2024 in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

The judge ruled that Halligan was not legally serving as the interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia when she brought the cases. James Comey faced charges of lying to Congress, and Letitia James faced mortgage-fraud charges; both pleaded not guilty. In her order, Judge Currie also pointed out that Halligan had “no prosecutorial experience.”

Pam Bondi vows immediate appeal after James Comey case dismissal



Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to appeal after a judge dismissed the Department of Justice’s cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday.

“We'll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal to hold Letitia James and Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct,” Bondi said at a press conference.

She refused to comment on Comey’s statement that the judge’s decision sends a message to President Donald Trump that he cannot use the DOJ to go after his political opponents.

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