Department of Justice Faces Multiple Legal Setbacks in October

The United States Department of Justice encountered a series of legal failures in October 2026 under Attorney General Todd Blanche. These setbacks include a federal judge in Manhattan ruling that the department acted illegally in 2025 when it fired prosecutor Maurene Comey. Additionally, a federal magistrate judge struck a complaint against two former FBI officials from the record, citing a lack of court approval.

On October 5, the department filed criminal information against former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly leaking classified information in 2016. The filing occurred on the day the statute of limitations was set to expire, though critics argue the move is invalid because the specific statute requires a formal indictment rather than criminal information.

Further challenges occurred when a federal grand jury refused to indict Cassidy Hutchinson for perjury. These combined events have led to accusations that the department is pursuing vindictive and meritless prosecutions of political opponents of President Donald Trump.