The debate over health care subsidies and COVID-era tax credits continues, with Republicans eyeing conditions for extensions while Democrats seek continuity of coverage.

A six-week government shutdown concluded with a House-approved bill to reopen, though it did not include extensions of ACA subsidies.

Comey’s defense argues the case is retaliatory for his public criticisms of Trump and is entangled with White House political objectives, including the Russia probe context.

Separately, Congress has passed a funding package restoring federal worker pay, preventing further layoffs through January, and ensuring back pay once the shutdown ends, with funding for SNAP and other food programs.

Comey’s team says additional grounds for dismissal are being pursued, with the trial tentatively set for January and pretrial motions advancing.

Reuters contributed reporting to the coverage of these developments.

Currie and other judges have scrutinized whether Bondi’s authority, and the overall interim-appointment process, complied with long-standing practice and statutory limits, a pattern echoed in similar cases elsewhere.

White House statements suggested federal workers’ back pay would likely be issued within the following week.

The article situates these legal moves within broader debates about the independence of federal prosecutions and potential political influence in high-profile cases.

A federal judge is weighing whether interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was validly appointed, a ruling that could affect indictments against James Comey and Letitia James in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The core dispute centers on Halligan’s appointment after Erik Siebert’s resignation, with questions about whether Pam Bondi, the attorney general, had authority to install a new interim prosecutor after 120 days.

Media coverage frames the week as pivotal for prosecutions tied to Trump-era targets, emphasizing live reporting and independent analysis.