Judge Assigned to Fired FBI Director James Comey’s Case

A federal judge has been assigned to preside over the case of fired FBI Director James Comey.

In late May, the U.S. Department of Justice issued new charges against Comey.

U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan of the Eastern District of North Carolina has set Oct. 21 as a trial date in Comey’s case.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina indicted Comey in April, alleging that the seashell image was “a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”

Restaurant veterans have said “86” is “everyday lingo” that can mean an item has run out or should be removed from the menu.

The trial was to have been held in July, but the schedule was pushed back after Comey’s team last week asked for more time, saying some of their arguments “may require extensive briefing.”

Comey and his team plan to file motions to dismiss the case based on arguments including that it is a product of vindictive and selective prosecution. Flanagan referenced Comey’s plans in her order Tuesday.

If the case survives expected motions to dismiss, Comey would appear for an arraignment on Sept. 30 at the federal courthouse in New Bern, North Carolina.