A federal judge has rejected New York Attorney General Letitia James’ request to force the U.S. Department of Justice to release all of its communications with the media. The ruling came after reports surfaced that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan exchanged encrypted messages with Lawfare reporter Anna Bower.
Judge Rules Against Letitia James’ Request
The controversy began when Halligan allegedly sent several Signal app messages to the journalist, disputing parts of her reporting. While it’s not uncommon for prosecutors to speak with reporters, this exchange raised questions due to its private and encrypted nature.
“Anna, this is Lindsey Halligan,” one message reportedly read. “You’re reporting things that are simply not accurate. I thought you should know.”
After screenshots of the conversation began circulating online, Letitia James asked the court to require the Justice Department to log all media communications moving forward.
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) October 20, 2025
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia. https://t.co/nES7Y0tp5G pic.twitter.com/1huo6rwBsK
Federal Judge Rejects the Motion
U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker, a Biden appointee, ruled that James failed to provide sufficient evidence showing why the court should mandate such a measure.
In his six-page order, Judge Walker wrote:
“The defendant has not shown that it is necessary for the Court to require the government to track its communications with the media in any specific way.”
He added that while Halligan’s conversation with Lawfare’s senior editor might be “unusual,” it does not appear to violate any legal or ethical standards.
Letitia James Faces Federal Charges
The decision marks a setback for James, who is currently facing federal charges in Virginia. She was indicted by a grand jury last month in the Eastern District of Virginia on bank fraud and false statement charges.
According to federal prosecutors, the allegations stem from a mortgage loan connected to a property she owns in Norfolk, Virginia.
Summary
Judge Walker’s ruling effectively ends James’ bid to monitor DOJ communications with the press, at least for now. The decision also highlights the growing tension between prosecutors, journalists, and public officials as sensitive legal cases unfold under public scrutiny.
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