Welcome to the News Hour. A federal judge has dismissed the indictments against former FBI

director James Comey and New York State Attorney General, Letitia James. In twin rulings today,

Judge Cameron McGowan Curry found the appointment of Lindsay Halligan as interim U.S. attorney

was invalid and unlawful. Haligan had been handpicked by President Donald Trump to bring criminal

charges against his political foes when a predecessor refused. She was then swiftly appointed

as interim U.S. attorney by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Comy reacted to the news today.

I'm grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence,

and a reflection of what the Department of Justice has become under Donald Trump, which is heartbreaking.

But I was also inspired by the example of the career people who refused to be part of this travesty.

It cost some of them their jobs, which is painful,

but to preserve their integrity, which is beyond price. And I know they will serve again.

And our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, asked press secretary Caroline Levitt about this today.

Here was her response.

I know there was a judge who is clearly trying to shield

Letitia James and James Comey from receiving accountability. And that's why they took this

unprecedented action to throw away the indictments against these two individuals. But the Department

of Justice will be appealing very soon. And it is our position that Lindsay Halligan is extremely qualified for this position, but

more importantly, was legally appointed to it.

NPR's National Justice Correspondent.

Carrie Johnson's covering the latest and joins me now.

So Kerry, let's start with Jim Comey's case.

He was charged with lying to Congress obstructing a congressional proceeding. The judge

...