A federal magistrate judge says “government misconduct” may have tainted the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, describing a cascade of apparent errors by lead prosecutor Lindsey Halligan.

The magistrate judge, William Fitzpatrick, ordered prosecutors Monday to quickly turn over records of secret grand jury proceedings to defense attorneys as they seek to dismiss the false-statement and obstruction-of-Congress charges pending against Comey in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

“The Court recognizes this is an extraordinary remedy,” Fitzpatrick wrote in a 24-page opinion, “but given the factually based challenges the defense has raised to the government’s conduct and the prospect that government misconduct may have tainted the grand jury proceedings, disclosure of grand jury materials under these unique circumstances is necessary.”

Fitzpatrick’s decision came after he personally reviewed records of the grand jury proceedings that led to Comey’s Sept. 25 indictment on charges that he lied to Congress in 2020. The indictment was signed by Halligan, President Donald Trump’s handpicked prosecutor, who was installed by Attorney General Pam Bondi when other prosecutors resisted bringing the case against Comey.

His assessment adds to the mounting possibility that Comey’s case will be dismissed before it goes to trial. In addition to the procedural flaws Fitzpatrick said appeared to occur, Halligan is facing a challenge to the validity of her appointment altogether and could be disqualified from the case.