Judge Assigned to Handle Comey Case Said To Be ‘Unflappable’: Report
A Biden-appointed federal judge known for his calm demeanor and black belt in karate is preparing to oversee one of the most politically charged trials of President Donald J. Trump’s second term — the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey.
U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who sits on the federal bench in Alexandria, Virginia, will preside over a case that has captured the nation’s attention as it pits the Justice Department against one of the central figures in the Trump-era FBI controversies.
Comey, who was indicted last month on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding, entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment Wednesday morning. Prosecutors allege he lied under oath to Congress in 2020 — the same year he publicly defended the FBI’s handling of politically sensitive investigations into then-President Trump.
Judge Nachmanoff, appointed to the bench in 2021, has earned a reputation for fairness and restraint. CNN reports that attorneys familiar with his courtroom describe him as “even-tempered” and “disciplined,” qualities that may prove critical as he navigates the high-profile Comey case under intense political pressure.
“I would call him an apolitical judge,” Virginia attorney Kevin Carroll told CNN, noting his own previous case before Nachmanoff. “The judge hasn’t brought politics into it at all. It’s just been straight legal discussion.”
Another attorney, Robert Jenkins, said Nachmanoff “is committed to getting things right and making sure that justice is served.” Jenkins added that if Comey’s prosecution proves politically driven, the judge “will discover the right way to deal with it.”
Still, the optics are hard to ignore. Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee confirmed with limited Republican support, now presides over a trial involving the former FBI director who once led an agency accused of politically targeting President Trump. The case’s grand jury indictment was handed down in Washington, D.C. — one of the most heavily Democratic jurisdictions in the country.
Before his current role, Nachmanoff served as a magistrate judge in Alexandria and handled several politically tinged cases, including the 2019 initial hearings for Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, associates of Trump ally Rudy Giuliani. Both men were charged with campaign finance violations and released on $1 million bonds.
Since taking his seat, Nachmanoff has largely avoided public controversy, overseeing cases ranging from a lawsuit involving a CIA physician forced out of her position to the 2024 conviction of a healthcare worker who illegally accessed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s medical files.
Whether Judge Nachmanoff can maintain his reputation for impartiality amid the Comey proceedings remains to be seen — but the political implications are undeniable. With public trust in federal institutions at a breaking point, all eyes will be on his courtroom in Alexandria as the trial of one of Washington’s most controversial figures begins.