Charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James were dropped on Monday, ending a years-long saga of the contentious U.S. political landscape playing out in its courtrooms. Here is a look at what precipitated the charges being dropped and what happens next.

Charges Against Comey and James Dropped

Senior U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie issued two separate opinions on the cases against Comey and James, dismissing both sets of charges because the prosecutor who pursued them was deemed to be unlawfully appointed. Currie wrote that only a district court had the authority to appoint a new lead to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia when the past head left. However, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi tried to use her power to appoint Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer to Trump, to lead the Eastern District of Virginia office. Halligan was then able to secure charges against both Comey and James from federal grand juries.

Currie tossed both of the cases “without prejudice.” This means that it is still possible that new cases may be brought against Comey and James on the same charges. However, Currie seemed to acknowledge that it is not likely with Comey, as the statute of limitations for his charges has already passed.

Currie wrote in Comey's cases that Halligan's "defective appointment" was an "unlawful exercise" of executive power. Currie used similar language when also dismissing the charges against James.

Comey issued a video statement via Instagram shortly after Currie's decision. In the statement, Comey expressed his gratitude that the case was dropped; however, he also cautioned that President Donald Trump will likely come after him again. He also took the opportunity to express his belief that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has become corrupt under Trump, noting that this is why his case matters on a national scale.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani responded to the charges being dropped against James. When asked by reporters about the decision at an unrelated media conference on Monday afternoon, Mamdani said that he was "very excited."

James also weighed in on Currie's decision, making her first public remarks about her case since October 13 while campaigning for Mamdani. James has been vocal about what she says is Trump's overt politicization of the DOJ. In her statement on Monday, James said she will "continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”

Who is Judge Cameron McGowan Currie? The judge issuing these monumental rulings is an appointee of former President Bill Clinton. She typically sits for South Carolina; however, she was appointed to the Halligan issue because the other judges serving in the Eastern District of Virginia are involved in ensuring there is a top prosecutor in this particular jurisdiction. She stopped working as a full-time judge in 2013 after serving for years in South Carolina.

The chief judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently appointed Currie to handle all of the challenges involving Halligan in an attempt to maintain public confidence. The change came after Trump's DOJ continued to come under scrutiny for its perceived loyalty to the Trump administration.

Who Else is on Trump's Prosecution List

Comey and James are far from the only political figures on Trump's political hit list as of late. The president has supported the prosecution of several of his critics and rivals in recent months. These include his own former national security adviser, John Bolton, as well as Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.

Bolton was indicted for allegedly mishandling classified information back in October. Bolton's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that the case was resolved years ago and that her client will prove that he did not unlawfully share information.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced that it was investigating Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain and a senator representing Arizona. The Pentagon said that Kelly was being put under review for “serious allegations of misconduct” received against him. Kelly could face a recall to active duty to serve an administrative punishment.

Trump has not been shy in his demands that Kelly and five Democratic lawmakers face punishment for a video that they made, reminding military members of their sworn duty to disobey illegal orders. The president and his staff have been referring to this group of lawmakers as the "seditious six."

Kelly responded to the Pentagon announcement with a statement defending his years of military service. He also accused Trump of trying to intimidate him and other members of Congress for simply trying to hold the administration accountable.

Looking for stories that inform and engage? From breaking headlines to fresh perspectives, WaveNewsToday has more to explore. Ride the wave of what’s next.