All articles tagged with #lindsey halligan
The Department of Justice fired interim U.S. Attorney James Hundley for the Eastern District of Virginia just hours after a panel of federal judges appointed him, with Deputy AG Todd Blanche emphasizing that the president—not judges—selects U.S. attorneys, highlighting a continuing clash over who has the appointment power for federal prosecutors following related firings and political pressure.
Hours after Eastern District of Virginia judges appointed James Hundley as interim U.S. attorney to replace Lindsey Halligan, the Justice Department said Hundley was fired, highlighting a clash between the DOJ and the White House. Deputy AG Todd Blanche publicly announced the firing on social media, and Halligan’s brief tenure followed controversial prosecutions that a federal court ruled were invalid, underscoring that EDVA judges have the authority to appoint a U.S. attorney until Senate confirmation.
Lindsey Halligan, a Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has resigned after multiple judges criticized her and ruled her appointment unlawful; she oversaw indictments against Letitia James and James Comey that were later dismissed, a judge barred her from using the U.S. Attorney title, and the district moved to fill the vacancy amid disputes over back-to-back interim appointments.
A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia barred Lindsey Halligan from referring to herself as United States Attorney in court filings, saying her appointment was unlawful and that continuing to use the title ignores a binding court order; the DOJ had argued otherwise but reversed, and Halligan’s status remains disputed as the court seeks a replacement for the position.
A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia barred Lindsey Halligan from presenting herself as the United States Attorney until she is properly appointed or Senate-confirmed, noting her lack of prosecutorial experience and granting her the benefit of the doubt by not referring her for disciplinary action at this time. The court also posted a vacancy for an Interim U.S. Attorney with a Feb. 10, 2026 deadline as the DOJ appeals a ruling that Halligan unlawfully served; Halligan was nominated again on Jan. 13 but has not been confirmed, and earlier cases against James and Comey were dismissed during her tenure.
The Justice Department says Lindsey Halligan remains the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia despite a judge’s ruling that her appointment violated the Appointments Clause, arguing that the Currie ruling applied only to the James and Comey cases and did not force Halligan to relinquish the title. DOJ officials criticized Judge Novak’s request for an explanation as procedural overreach and noted that replacement authority would lie with the district court until the Senate confirms a nominee.
The Justice Department pushed back on a federal judge’s order directing Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to use the title 'U.S. attorney' in Virginia court filings, saying Halligan did not misrepresent anything and that the judge’s earlier ruling invalidating her appointment remains in effect, as the DOJ appeals without seeking a stay; Halligan’s combative response accuses the judge of rudimentary legal errors, underscoring ongoing tensions between the Trump administration’s DOJ appointees and the federal judiciary.
Lindsey Halligan, the Trump‑backed U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, told a federal judge she can continue using the title even after another judge ruled her appointment unlawful; she argues Currie’s ruling only dismissed indictments against James and Comey and does not bar her from serving as U.S. attorney, while Judge Novak has pressed for clarification to avoid a false statement finding. The dispute adds to ongoing turmoil in EDVA, following leadership shakeups and the firing of a top official amid national security prosecutions.
A top federal prosecutor, Robert McBride, was ousted from the Eastern District of Virginia amid ongoing disputes over Lindsey Halligan's leadership. A judge had previously ruled Halligan was improperly appointed and dismissed cases she brought against James Comey and Letitia James, with four other acting U.S. attorney appointments also deemed unlawful. McBride had reportedly met with judges to seek a court-backed appointment as acting U.S. attorney, and DOJ leadership supported his dismissal.
Robert McBride, the deputy to acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in the Eastern District of Virginia, was fired after declining to lead the Comey prosecution. The dismissal comes amid ongoing turmoil in the office, including a judge’s ruling that Halligan was unlawfully appointed and the Comey and Letitia James prosecutions being dismissed, with the DOJ appealing and several other prosecutors leaving the office.
The Justice Department fired Robert McBride, the No. 2 official in the Eastern District of Virginia, after he told leaders he could not both run the office and lead the controversial Comey prosecution. The move comes amid questions about who will run the EDVA after a judge ruled Lindsey Halligan was not legally appointed, and reports that McBride had private meetings with federal judges, which were viewed as undermining the administration.
A federal judge has ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain her use of the U.S. attorney title for the Eastern District of Virginia, despite a court ruling that her appointment was unlawful, raising concerns about potential false statements and disciplinary action.
The article discusses the controversy surrounding Lindsey Halligan's attempts to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, highlighting questions about her authority as U.S. Attorney and the legal procedures involved in resubmitting cases to grand juries, amid conflicting court rulings and unclear approval processes.
Some Trump officials are criticizing prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, who was hand-picked by Trump, predicting she will face legal trouble and become a primary target for subpoenas if Democrats regain control of Congress or the DOJ.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan engaged in a reckless Signal chat with a reporter, risking revealing grand jury information, while various political and legal battles unfold involving figures like Jim Comey, Fani Willis, and others, highlighting ongoing tensions and investigations within the Trump administration and related entities.