DOJ Fires Top Prosecutor After Refusal to Re-Prosecute James Comey

Despite the procedural setback, Halligan and Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed prosecutors to prepare to refile the case once Halligan’s appointment was ratified — a plan McBride reportedly resisted.

“He was insubordinate, plain and simple,” said one senior Justice Department official, speaking on background. “The Attorney General made it clear this case would proceed. McBride was not willing to follow lawful orders from his superiors.”

McBride, 64, is a career federal prosecutor and former Navy lawyer who previously served in Kentucky before joining the Virginia office. Sources told MS Now that McBride held private, undisclosed meetings with federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia, including judges involved in the Comey case, without Halligan’s knowledge or authorization. Those meetings were seen inside DOJ as “highly irregular” and “a serious breach of protocol.”

Halligan reportedly learned of the meetings through court staff and immediately raised concerns to senior officials in Washington. Within days, McBride was placed on administrative leave pending review — a review that ultimately led to his removal late Friday.

The Justice Department confirmed the firing in a brief written statement, saying McBride was dismissed “for conduct inconsistent with DOJ standards and chain-of-command procedures.”

Comey was indicted in September on two felony counts — false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding — stemming from his testimony to lawmakers about the origins of the FBI’s 2016 investigation into alleged Trump-Russia ties. Prosecutors allege Comey knowingly misled Congress about the use of the Steele dossier and internal discussions about wiretapping members of the Trump campaign.

Although Judge Currie’s ruling temporarily halted the case, Halligan has made clear she intends to re-prosecute Comey, arguing that the indictment remains valid and that only her own procedural status was affected.

“James Comey is not above the law,” Halligan said in a statement last month. “Our office intends to pursue justice without fear or favor, regardless of politics or position.”