In a striking turn of events, the Justice Department has dismissed Michael Ben’Ary, the prominent national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia. This swift action came hot on the heels of a public critique by investigative journalist Julie Kelly, who highlighted Ben’Ary’s close ties to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
Monaco, often characterized in the media as a partisan figure from the Obama-Biden administration, has previously faced allegations of orchestrating efforts against former President Trump and Republican leaders in connection with the events of January 6.
Moreover, Monaco was implicated in controversial meetings, including those occurring in the White House basement in 2016, where discussions took place regarding the now-discredited Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
Earlier this year, Trump took the significant step of revoking Monaco’s security clearance, a move that underscored the contentious atmosphere surrounding her tenure.
In a pointed comment, MSNBC’s Ken Dilanian noted that the timing of Ben’Ary’s ousting was telling, occurring just hours after Kelly’s public denouncement on social media, where she branded him as someone deeply entrenched in the previous administration’s hierarchy.
New: The DoJ fired the top national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia a few hours after MAGA activist Julie Kelly denounced him on X because he has been detailed to work for the deputy attorney general in the last administration.
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) October 1, 2025
However, according to Dilanian, the dismissal had no direct connection to Comey’s case, a claim echoed by multiple sources.
To be clear, this fired national security prosecutor had nothing to do with the Comey case, multiple people have told me. https://t.co/CEpOIRh7qQ
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) October 1, 2025
Kelly wasted no time in firing back at Dilanian’s insinuations, asserting her role as a diligent reporter pushing against the cynicism and inertia often ascribed to established figures in the DOJ.
Oh Fusion Ken. I’m not just a “MAGA activist,” I’m a reporter doing the f*cking job you establishment DOJ sycophants refuse to do. Now dig deeper into the Democratic ties to others in the EDVA, which tried to sabotage the Comey indictment. https://t.co/hC7UpQFkbn
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) October 1, 2025
Ben’Ary’s dismissal follows a pattern set by President Trump, who previously removed Erik Siebert from his position as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Siebert had reportedly resisted pursuing charges against high-profile figures, including Letitia James and Adam Schiff, prompting speculation about the prevailing political climate within the judicial system.
Intriguingly, there have been suggestions that prosecutors aligned with what some critics term the “Deep State” attempted to protect Comey by leaking sensitive information the night before his indictment.
In a continued cascade of turmoil, Lindsey Halligan has since stepped in as the Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and has promptly indicted former FBI Director James Comey. The fallout from this indictment has not spared family ties, as Comey’s son-in-law submitted his resignation from the district shortly thereafter, with reports indicating further resignations within the DOJ are expected.
