Lindsey Halligan Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia Amid Controversy

Lindsey Halligan Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia Amid Controversy

Washington, D.C. — In a surprising move that has sparked both intrigue and concern, Lindsey Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and member of Donald Trump’s legal team, has been officially appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath of office around noon today at the Justice Department headquarters, as confirmed by officials to NBC News.

Halligan, who previously represented Trump in the high-profile Mar-a-Lago classified records case led by special counsel Jack Smith, is stepping into a role traditionally filled by seasoned prosecutors. Trump announced Halligan’s appointment over the weekend via a series of posts on Truth Social, where he also called for criminal charges against several of his long-time adversaries, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

The Eastern District of Virginia is known for its significant national security cases, including the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called “20th hijacker” in the 9/11 attacks. Halligan’s appointment comes in the wake of Erik Siebert’s resignation, which was reportedly influenced by Trump and White House aides’ dissatisfaction over Siebert’s decision not to pursue charges against Comey and James. Trump later claimed he had fired Siebert, contradicting the former attorney’s assertion of resignation.

Justice Department officials have indicated that Trump is expected to nominate Halligan for the permanent U.S. attorney position, which would require Senate confirmation. However, her lack of experience as a criminal prosecutor has raised eyebrows among legal experts and staff within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sources within the department expressed shock at the appointment, noting that Halligan has never prosecuted a case and will now oversee complex criminal and terrorism investigations.

Federal prosecutors have been investigating allegations against Comey and James but have reportedly found insufficient evidence to pursue charges. Sources indicated that prosecutors did not believe they had enough grounds to charge James with mortgage fraud related to a home purchase for her niece, nor did they find enough evidence to charge Comey for allegedly lying to Congress about FBI investigations into the 2016 election.

In a twist of fate, there was initial confusion over the weekend regarding the appointment, with Maggie Cleary, a former local prosecutor recently hired in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, being mistakenly thought to be the new interim U.S. attorney. Cleary has now been named the office’s first assistant U.S. attorney, the second-in-command position, and is also known as a staunch Trump supporter.

As Halligan steps into her new role, the U.S. Attorney’s Office faces a pivotal moment, balancing the expectations of the Trump administration with the traditional standards of legal expertise and integrity that have long defined its operations. The coming weeks will reveal how Halligan navigates this complex landscape and whether her leadership will align with the office’s storied history of prosecutorial excellence.