NEW YORK: Criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the US government on Thursday grudgingly withdrew subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawals in US District Court followed a remarkable back and forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government lawyers.

Donald Trump is targeting a group of Times journalists over leaks regarding his new Air Force One.

The Justice Department is dropping the subpoenas it filed demanding grand jury testimony and phone records from New York Times journalists after sharp questioning Thursday from a…