Thursday, January 22, 2026-Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has stepped down following sustained pressure from federal judges who repeatedly ruled that her appointment was unlawful.
Halligan assumed one of the nation’s most influential prosecutor roles despite having no prior prosecutorial experience, after her predecessor was removed amid demands to pursue politically sensitive cases. Judges in the district consistently warned that her authority expired after the 120-day interim period, and criticized her continued use of the U.S. attorney title, leading to escalating judicial rebukes and her eventual departure.
Her tenure was marked by controversy and significant legal setbacks. Federal judges dismissed high-profile indictments she brought against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutions were invalid because Halligan lacked lawful authority to bring them.
The criticism culminated in court orders barring her from presenting herself as the district’s top federal prosecutor, highlighting deepening tensions between the Justice Department and the federal judiciary over executive appointment powers.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Halligan’s exit and defended her actions, attributing the breakdown to political opposition and procedural barriers. Judges in the Eastern District of Virginia have since begun soliciting applications for a legally appointed replacement, underscoring broader concerns about interim appointments and judicial oversight. Halligan’s resignation follows similar departures of other embattled interim U.S. attorneys, reflecting ongoing friction over politicized leadership roles within the Justice Department.
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