A federal judge in Virginia sided with James Comey in an early procedural victory for the former FBI director, who is facing charges for false statements and obstruction. The judge rejected federal prosecutors’ effort to impose broad restrictions on the evidence Comey can access ahead of trial.

U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff denied the Justice Department’s request for a sweeping protective order, concluding that it would have “unnecessarily hindered and delayed” Comey’s ability to prepare his defense, according to an order written Monday and published Tuesday morning. Nachmanoff, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, acknowledged the government’s concerns about leaks and sensitive materials but ruled that the proposed order “tipped the balance too far” against the defendant’s right to a fair trial.