Legal AF by MeidasTouch: "Trump Prosecutor Caught Red-Handed as Entire Plan Falls Apart"
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Michael Popok (MeidasTouch/Legal AF, National Trial Lawyer Strategist)
Guests/Panel: Focus primarily on Michael Popok’s reporting
Episode Overview
In this urgent, breaking-news episode, Michael Popok provides an incisive, up-to-the-minute analysis of a dramatic federal court hearing in the high-profile DOJ prosecution of ex-FBI Director James Comey. The episode zeroes in on grave issues—including mishandling of indictments, allegations of vindictive prosecution directed by Donald Trump, and the exposure of prosecutorial misconduct—threatening to unravel the DOJ’s case and potentially end Comey’s legal jeopardy entirely.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Hearing: A Judge Turns Prosecutor into Witness
- Setting: Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Nachmanoff presiding.
- The hearing was intended as a motion to dismiss for vindictive prosecution. Instead, Judge Nachmanoff flipped the script, making the DOJ prosecutor ("Lindsey Halligan") testify about the origins and validity of Comey’s indictment.
"When a federal judge turns a prosecutor for Donald Trump into a witness for the defense... that's a bad day in court."
—Michael Popok [02:15]
2. Grand Jury Irregularities: The Missing Transcripts and Invalid Indictment
- Judge Nachmanoff aggressively sought the truth behind the missing grand jury transcript and the mysterious emergence of a "second" indictment.
- Halligan admitted: She did not reconvene the grand jury for the second indictment; only two members signed, far short of the minimum 14 required for an indictment.
- Instead, the indictment appeared cobbled together by removing a failed charge and re-signing paperwork, not following proper legal procedure.
- Result: If the indictment is invalid, Comey is immediately off the hook due to expired statute of limitations.
"She just cut and pasted it and she never pulled the grand jury back together again because they'd all gone home. That renders the indictment, ladies and gentlemen, invalid. We call it void ab initio—from the start."
—Michael Popok [09:00]
3. Prosecutorial Puppet Strings: Was Halligan Doing Trump’s Bidding?
- Judge pressed on whether Halligan, appointed after a Trump social media demand, was his direct puppet.
- Tyler Lemons, novice prosecutor, awkwardly denied she was a 'puppet', but cited no independent basis for her actions.
- Recent (leaked) Trump DM to Pam Bondi instructs Halligan's use to target political adversaries, bolstering allegations of vindictive prosecution.
"She's not a puppet because I say she's not a puppet. That's a problem when a federal judge questions your independence as a prosecutor and whether you are a puppet for your boss, Donald Trump."
—Michael Popok [10:00]
4. Secret DOJ Memo & Vindictive Motive
- Revelation of a secret DOJ memo in which career prosecutors recommended not bringing charges against Comey.
- DOJ is refusing to turn it over, on direct order from Todd Blanche (DOJ No. 2)—fueling questions about the political motivation for prosecuting Comey.
5. Judicial Demands & Deadlines
- Judge Nachmanoff orders DOJ to file, by 5:00pm Wednesday, a written explanation for the existence of two indictments and their validity.
- The judge promises a decision on vindictive prosecution possibly as soon as Thanksgiving.
- Parallel: Judge Curry is also evaluating legitimacy of Halligan’s appointment, with dismissal/disqualification on the table.
6. Predicted Outcome and Aftermath
- Popok gives a clear assessment: Indictment will likely be dismissed as invalid; DOJ is out of time for new charges (“game over” for prosecution).
- He calls for professional discipline of Halligan and Lemons for misleading the court.
"I think James Comey is on the right side of the angels here. I think his indictment will be dismissed... And then the judge should make a referral to the bar associations for discipline of Lindsey Halligan and Tyler Lemons for misleading the court."
—Michael Popok [12:00]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|---------|------------------| | 02:15 | Michael Popok | "When a federal judge turns a prosecutor for Donald Trump into a witness for the defense... that's a bad day in court." | | 09:00 | Michael Popok | "She just cut and pasted it and she never pulled the grand jury back together again... That renders the indictment… invalid." | | 10:00 | Michael Popok | "That's a problem when a federal judge questions your independence as a prosecutor and whether you are a puppet for your boss, Donald Trump." | | 12:00 | Michael Popok | "I think James Comey is on the right side of the angels here. I think his indictment will be dismissed..." |
Timeline of Key Segments
- [02:15] – Popok summarizes the hearing’s explosive developments and outlines the irregularities with the indictments.
- [05:00-10:00] – Detailed breakdown of Halligan’s courtroom admissions, grand jury procedural violations, and judge’s incredulity.
- [10:00-12:00] – Vindictive prosecution, DOJ memo withholding, and speculation on the impact for all involved parties.
- [12:00-13:43] – Popok’s concluding predictions and forceful calls for discipline against DOJ prosecutors.
Tone and Style
True to Legal AF’s signature, Popok’s tone is prosecutorial, wry, and urgent—mixing legal precision, dark humor (“Lemons couldn’t make lemonade”), and unflinching criticism of the DOJ’s conduct. He delivers commentary in clear, direct language meant to be accessible to legally-savvy and general audiences alike.
Summary Takeaway
This episode delivers an in-depth, real-time legal autopsy of a DOJ prosecution that appears to be collapsing under scrutiny. With Judge Nachmanoff exposing procedural shortcuts and possible political motivation, the Comey indictment stands on the brink of dismissal—a dramatic setback for Trump-aligned prosecutors and a potential harbinger of accountability for governmental abuse. Popok’s coverage is essential listening for anyone tracking law and politics at the highest levels.