Federal Judge Quashes Subpoenas for Letitia James Investigation, Disqualifies Acting U.S. Attorney
A federal judge has ruled that John Sarcone, the acting U.S. attorney in Albany who was appointed by President Trump, is serving unlawfully and cannot participate in an investigation into state Attorney General Letitia James. In a decision issued on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield quashed two subpoenas seeking records of James' previous investigations into President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association.
Schofield's ruling stems from Sarcone's questionable appointment to his position last year. The judge found that Sarcone's service was "unlawful because it bypassed the statutory requirements that govern who may exercise the powers of a U.S. attorney." As a result, she disqualified Sarcone from further participation in the underlying investigations.
The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration's efforts to investigate James, a Democrat who has successfully brought fraud charges against Trump and his businesses. Schofield's ruling joins a growing list of judges who have thrown out indictments against perceived enemies of Trump due to improper appointments or installations of prosecutors.
In January, another judge in Virginia quashed an indictment against Letitia James after determining that Lindsey Halligan, a former White House lawyer, was not properly installed as interim U.S. attorney. The case against James is widely seen as politically motivated, and she has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.
The investigation into James' office, led by Sarcone, began when he personally requested two subpoenas in August. Sarcone had previously stated that James was irresponsible for stating during her 2018 campaign that she would investigate Trump if elected.
James has long been a target of Trump's ire, and the president has repeatedly called for "accountability" for perceived critics like James who have investigated and brought charges against him. However, Schofield's ruling provides significant support to James' claims of partisan interference in her investigations.
The implications of this ruling are far-reaching, as it highlights concerns about the improper appointment of prosecutors in key cases. As one legal expert noted, "Federal law does not permit such a workaround," according to Schofield's decision.
A federal judge has ruled that John Sarcone, the acting U.S. attorney in Albany who was appointed by President Trump, is serving unlawfully and cannot participate in an investigation into state Attorney General Letitia James. In a decision issued on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield quashed two subpoenas seeking records of James' previous investigations into President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association.
Schofield's ruling stems from Sarcone's questionable appointment to his position last year. The judge found that Sarcone's service was "unlawful because it bypassed the statutory requirements that govern who may exercise the powers of a U.S. attorney." As a result, she disqualified Sarcone from further participation in the underlying investigations.
The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration's efforts to investigate James, a Democrat who has successfully brought fraud charges against Trump and his businesses. Schofield's ruling joins a growing list of judges who have thrown out indictments against perceived enemies of Trump due to improper appointments or installations of prosecutors.
In January, another judge in Virginia quashed an indictment against Letitia James after determining that Lindsey Halligan, a former White House lawyer, was not properly installed as interim U.S. attorney. The case against James is widely seen as politically motivated, and she has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.
The investigation into James' office, led by Sarcone, began when he personally requested two subpoenas in August. Sarcone had previously stated that James was irresponsible for stating during her 2018 campaign that she would investigate Trump if elected.
James has long been a target of Trump's ire, and the president has repeatedly called for "accountability" for perceived critics like James who have investigated and brought charges against him. However, Schofield's ruling provides significant support to James' claims of partisan interference in her investigations.
The implications of this ruling are far-reaching, as it highlights concerns about the improper appointment of prosecutors in key cases. As one legal expert noted, "Federal law does not permit such a workaround," according to Schofield's decision.
this is getting weird... Trump's people think they can just bypass the rules and appoint whoever they want to investigate someone? It's like, come on guys... 
. this judge makin a big move by quashin them subpoenas and disqualifyin sarcone from the investigation... that's some serious blow to trump's team 
. it's like, if you're gonna play dirty, at least do it right, gov't 
. anywayz, this ruling is good news for james and a bad news for trump 
. i just hope this doesn't set a precedent for other investigations to get messed with too 
The fact that he got appointed by Trump doesn't necessarily make it a problem, right? But then again, isn't that exactly why we have laws in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening? 
The whole thing just feels like a big mess, you know? 
, this judge is like a breath of fresh air 
! Disqualifying that Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone from participating in the investigation into Letitia James is like, totally needed 
. I mean, can you imagine how unfair it would be if someone just swooped in and took over an important job without going through all the proper channels 
? It's like, basic protocol right? 
. I'm not saying Letitia James is guilty or anything, but it's clear that there's some serious partisan bias at play here 
. It's good to know that one judge at least has the guts to call BS on it 
. We need more accountability and less partisan shenanigans 
. Bring it on, justice system! 