A federal judge says the Justice Department violated the constitutional rights of a close friend of James Comey and must return to him computer files that prosecutors had hoped to use for a potential criminal case against the former FBI director.

The Justice Department has challenged a court order that complicated efforts to seek a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey by making a trove of evidence off-limits to prosecutors.

A federal judge has ordered prosecutors in the criminal case of former FBI Director James Comey to produce materials from the investigation, saying he’s concerned the Justice Department’s position had been to “indict first" and investigate second.

The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to reject James Comey’s claim that his prosecution amounts to political retribution.

Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey want to review a transcript and audio recording of grand jury proceedings in his criminal case, citing what they say were “irregularities” in the process that should result in the dismissal of an indictment pushed by President Donald Trump.