FILE – Lindsey Halligan, special assistant to the president, speaks with a reporter outside of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
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Jacquelyn Martin/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Lindsey Halligan, a senior White House aide, would be nominated as the top federal prosecutor for the Virginia office. This move came after the previous U.S. attorney was removed from the position on Friday, causing turmoil in the office.
Trump took to social media to share the news just as he was leaving the White House for an event at Mount Vernon. He expressed his confidence in Halligan, stating that she would bring fairness and justice to the role.
As Trump continued to press Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue cases against his political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has been a target of the administration, the nomination of Halligan added another layer of controversy to the situation.
The appointment of Halligan raised concerns as it placed one of Trump’s legal defenders in a position of power, especially considering the ongoing pressure to charge James in a mortgage fraud investigation.
Erik Siebert, the former top prosecutor in the office, resigned amidst the administration’s push to bring charges against James. The investigation, focusing on alleged paperwork discrepancies related to James’ properties, has not yielded any significant evidence so far.
Halligan’s close ties to Trump’s legal team and her involvement in various controversial cases raised eyebrows. She had previously served as one of Trump’s attorneys during the FBI’s investigation into classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s social media posts, calling for swift action and praising Bondi’s performance, added to the political drama surrounding the nomination. The sudden appointment of Mary “Maggie” Cleary as the acting U.S. attorney further fueled speculation and tensions within the office.
The situation escalated when Siebert claimed he had resigned, but Trump countered by stating he had been fired. This public exchange highlighted the internal conflicts and power struggles within the Eastern District of Virginia office.
Trump’s relentless pursuit of justice, coupled with his demands for action against his adversaries, underscored the contentious atmosphere surrounding the U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia. The political maneuvering and power plays only added to the uncertainty and chaos within the legal system.
