00:00Former FBI Director James Comey is going on offense, filing two separate motions to toss out the federal charges brought against him by President Trump's Justice Department.
00:13One argues the case is pure retaliation, a personal vendetta by the president.
00:17The other claims the prosecutors who filed it was never legally appointed.
00:22Comey's team calls the indictment an egregious abuse of power, saying Trump targeted him for his public criticism.
00:28As part of the filings, Comey's lawyer submitted a 60-page collection of public statements by Trump and Comey, a paper trail they say shows a clear pattern of retaliation.
00:39Writing, quote, in response to Mr. Comey's protected speech, President Trump has resorted to personal attacks and calls to retaliate through punishment and imprisonment.
00:49The pattern of the president's statements and actions demonstrate a clear intent to subject Comey to official reprisal for his protected speech.
00:57Comey also argues that Lindy Halligan, a former Trump lawyer named interim U.S. attorney, was defectively appointed, making the entire indictment invalid.
01:07She took over after her predecessor, Eric Siebert, was forced out under pressure to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James.
01:16Comey's filings even cite Trump's own classified document case in Florida, where a judge dismissed charges over a similar appointment issue.
01:24Comey's filings even cite Trump and a former Trump lawyer named after her.
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