Halligan Under Florida Bar Ethics Inquiry as DOJ's Power Play Sparks Debate

The DOJ proposed a rule to grant Attorney General Pam Bondi unilateral authority to block state bar ethics investigations into current and former government lawyers, signaling a broad effort to curb disciplinary oversight. Lindsey Halligan, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is reportedly under a Florida Bar ethics inquiry prompted by the Campaign for Accountability and noted by the New York Times. Florida had indicated an investigation was pending, contrasting with Virginia’s stance to refrain from probing there. In an update, Florida Bar said it ‘erroneously’ stated Halligan was under investigation, leaving the probe’s status unclear and highlighting tensions between federal influence and state ethics oversight.