Prosecutor Matthew Petracca Exits 2-Count Comey Seashells Case Before October Trial
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 29
Prosecutor Matthew Petracca Exits 2-Count Comey Seashells Case Before October Trial
4 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 29
Matthew Petracca, the rookie federal prosecutor who brought the case against James Comey, is no longer listed on the prosecution in a new court filing; Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo now leads it.
Petracca also withdrew from other Eastern District of North Carolina criminal cases and had considered leaving the Justice Department before remaining after a week off, according to people familiar with the matter.
The late-April indictment accuses Comey of threatening President Donald Trump through an Instagram photo of seashells arranged as “86 47,” which prosecutors said could be read as intent to harm the 47th president.
The case, overseen by U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle, has drawn broad criticism and faces legal challenges; Comey plans to argue vindictive prosecution, and some conservative legal experts expect dismissal before the October trial.
Why did a rookie prosecutor suddenly step away from this high-profile case against a former FBI director?
How is internal turmoil at the Justice Department affecting its ability to prosecute major criminal cases?
When does ambiguous online slang cross the legal line into a prosecutable threat against a public official?