Well, so much, so much for a slow holiday news week. The lead starts right now.

Cases closed, a federal judge tossing the indictments against two perceived Trump opponents, former FBI director James Coney, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Why the judge says the Trump loyalist behind those indictments was unlawfully

appointed. Plus, a Pentagon threat floating consequential action for one of the Democrats who made

a video reminding military members, they can disobey illegal orders, the Trump administration,

dubbing the group the seditious six. And let the holiday travel rush begin. The bumpy spots

already out there as millions of Americans. Get ready for their planes, trains, and automobiles

as they make their way to Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks so much for joining us here on the lead.

I'm Erica Hill in for Jake Tapper. The lead tonight,

a federal judge dismissing the Justice Department's cases against former FBI director James Comey and New York

Attorney General Letitia James. Finding the appointment of prosecutor Lindsay Halligan,

President Trump's handpicked choice for the Eastern District of Virginia is invalid and ruling that, quote, all actions flowing from Ms. Halligan's defective appointment were unlawful exercises of executive power and are hereby set aside.

Halligan, of course, is Trump's former personal lawyer. She had no prior experience prosecuting a case

and had been interim U.S. attorney for four days before bringing the indictment against Comey.

The White House today standing by the decision to name Halligan to that role.

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.

Now on Friday, Comey's attorneys filed to have the case dismissed after prosecutor said the full grand jury never saw the final indictment Halligan signed.

Trump named Halligan to this role, of course, after pushing out the former top prosecutor in that spot,

Eric Siebert, who resigned, rather who resisted Trump's pressure to campaign to prosecute Letitia James and his other political enemies.

Today, on Instagram, in reaction to the developments, Comey sharing his gratitude, and also a warning.

The President of the United States cannot use the Department of Justice to target his political enemies.

I don't care what your politics are.

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