Some professional news: starting Monday, I will be joining @benjaminpenn in covering the DOJ for @BLaw! It’s been an incredible four years on the health team, and I am looking forward to this next chapter. Send any DOJ-related news tips to the email in my bio, or via Signal.

NEW: The Justice Department’s indictment of James Comey was riddled with problems that may give the former FBI director legal grounds to have it dismissed, a federal judge ruled on Monday. More here from @cstrohm:

NEW: US Representative LaMonica McIver must face federal charges of assaulting law enforcement officers outside an immigration detention facility in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, a judge ruled Thursday. From @davidvoreacos, with assist from me:

Read more about today's hearing here in this story from Bloomberg News reporters @cstrohm and @JimmyJenkins:

Comey and Halligan were both present for the hearing, though Letitia James wasn’t. Judge said she plans to issue an order by Thanksgiving.

Spotted outside the federal courthouse in Alexandria, where attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey and NY Attorney General Letitia James moved to dismiss Lindsey Halligan’s charges against them, arguing she’s unlawfully serving as US attorney.

There's hearings this week on motions to disqualify Trump’s former personal lawyer Lindsey Halligan as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. I'll be in the courtroom in Alexandria for Halligan's hearing this AM.

President Donald Trump is tapping US attorney nominees with traditional prosecutorial experience in red states while installing unorthodox loyalists in predominantly Democratic jurisdictions, a @BLaw analysis found. More here:

The South Florida US attorney’s office is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its leadership in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former DOJ officials and others involved in cases against Trump. Scoop from @benjaminpenn:

. @USAttyPirro said in an emailed statement that her office accepts the jury’s verdict, but added, “law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how ‘minor.’” “Even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another.”

Full story for @BLaw here, with updates to come:

Dunn hugged his lawyers, who started laughing after the jury was dismissed. “I’m relieved and I’m looking forward to moving on with my life,” Dunn later told reporters in the courtroom. His attorneys are expected to speak with reporters outside the court shortly.

STORY: A federal jury found a former Justice Department employee not guilty of misdemeanor assault over a viral incident in which he allegedly threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer. More here for @BLaw: https://t.co/wOul13zVf6

NOT GUILTY. Story coming.

We have a verdict!

Update: the judge has received another note and attorneys are reentering the courtroom. TBD if it's a verdict.

After hearing from attorneys on both sides, Judge Nichols says he will tell the jury "bodily harm" and "injury" hold the same meaning. Defense attorney Nicholas Silverman pushes back on the decision, saying the defense will request a mistrial.

No verdict yet--the jury is asking for clarification on the definition of "bodily harm" and if "injury" is different from that.

Hearing there's a note from the jury. Attorneys are gathering back in the courtroom.

Happy Thursday from the federal courthouse in DC—where the jury is continuing to deliberate over the misdemeanor charge against the alleged sandwich thrower. 🥪 Any guesses on when we’ll hear a verdict?

UPDATE: The jury is still deliberating, so Judge Nichols has released the jurors for the day. They will return tomorrow at 9 am ET to continue their deliberations. I'll be back then as we await a verdict!🥪