A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors must return evidence seized from Daniel Richman, a former attorney for James Comey, in the dismissed criminal case against the former FBI director.

The ruling allows the DOJ to keep a copy of the files with the court and seek a new warrant if they wish to pursue them again.

Richman had sued to prevent the use of materials he claimed were improperly seized during a 2019–2020 probe that ended in 2021 without charges.

Prosecutors had used the files this year to build their October indictment of Comey for allegedly making false statements and obstructing Congress, CNBC has reported.

Last month, a separate judge dismissed Comey’s case, along with one against New York Attorney General Letitia James, citing that both indictments were obtained under an unlawfully appointed U.S. attorney.