A federal judge has issued an order preventing the U.S. Justice Department from obtaining emails and digital records connected to attorneys representing a close associate of former FBI Director James Comey. The decision significantly narrows the scope of evidence available to prosecutors in an ongoing criminal investigation linked to Comey.
The ruling, delivered on December 6, blocks government access to a broad range of correspondence that investigators had attempted to secure through a sealed legal request. The materials belong to a former Justice Department official described by court filings as a longtime confidant of Comey, along with communications involving that individual’s legal counsel.
Prosecutors argued the records could hold evidence of potential wrongdoing and sought to invoke the rare “crime-fraud exception,” a legal doctrine that allows authorities to bypass attorney-client privilege under specific circumstances. However, the judge concluded that the government failed to demonstrate the level of proof required to override those protections.
In the written order, the court criticized the request as overly broad, stating that it lacked sufficient precision and supporting justification. As a result, investigators are now prohibited from using any material connected to the disputed communications as part of their case.
The broader inquiry centers on allegations involving the handling of classified information tied to Comey’s personal memos documenting conversations with then–President Donald Trump. Those memos became a focal point of political and legal scrutiny following Comey’s dismissal from the FBI.
To ensure independence, the Attorney General appointed a special counsel to supervise the investigation. While the probe remains active, the latest ruling curtails a significant avenue of evidence collection.
Legal analysts say the decision reinforces the strength of attorney-client privilege, particularly in politically sensitive cases. “Courts require exceptionally clear evidence before allowing prosecutors to access confidential legal communications,” said one legal expert familiar with federal privilege standards.
Much of the case remains under seal, and officials from the U.S. Department of Justice have declined to comment publicly on the outcome. Despite the setback, the special counsel’s investigation is expected to continue through other evidence channels.
For Comey and his legal team, the ruling represents a major procedural victory, shielding sensitive legal strategy and potentially limiting the prosecution’s leverage moving forward.
