A U.S. judge on Wednesday repeatedly questioned the validity of the grand jury indictment of former FBI Director James Comey secured by a prosecutor closely aligned with President Donald Trump in the latest signal that the charges may be dismissed before trial.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — James Comey made another run at getting his criminal case dismissed as his lawyers told a judge Wednesday that the prosecution was improperly vindictive and rooted in President Donald Trump’s hatred of the former FBI director.

The grand jury never voted on the final indictment against former FBI director James Comey over Senate testimony, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb and NBC News Legal Affairs Reporter Gary Grumbach join Meet the Press NOW to explain the government’s misstep in the case against former FBI Director James Comey that could get it thrown out.

In a blistering opinion over how the DOJ brought charges against ex-FBI Director James Comey, a judge said there may be grounds to toss the case.

Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick said the government's handling of the case raises "genuine issues of misconduct."

A dispute over whether an indictment will stand against former FBI Director James Comey has put attention on grand juries and how they work in U.S. federal courts.

The judge also appeared puzzled after a lead prosecutor said he couldn’t reveal whether career attorneys initially recommended against charging the former FBI director.