Lindsey Halligan, a former aide to President Trump with no prosecutorial experience, has departed her interim role as U.S. attorney for eastern Virginia following rulings that deemed her appointment unlawful. The move ends a contentious tenure marked by failed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Federal judges cited violations of legal appointment processes in their decisions.
Lindsey Halligan's brief stint as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia ended abruptly after federal courts invalidated her position. Appointed by President Trump on September 21, 2025, Halligan stepped in one day after Erik Siebert, the previous acting prosecutor, resigned amid pressure from the administration to pursue charges against perceived adversaries, including Comey and James.
Halligan, aged 36 and previously Trump's personal attorney, quickly moved to secure indictments. Comey faced charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, while James was accused of bank fraud and false statements. Both entered not guilty pleas.
However, her appointment drew immediate scrutiny. Judges ruled that Siebert had already used the full 120-day limit for acting prosecutors, leaving no basis for Halligan's role without Senate confirmation or a district court appointment. U.S. District Judge David J. Novak rejected arguments from Halligan and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had called his interpretation "flat wrong" and an overreach.
In a forceful order issued Tuesday, Novak declared that Halligan's continued service defied court orders and violated U.S. law, including the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. He wrote, "In short, this charade of Ms. Halligan masquerading as the United States Attorney for this District in direct defiance of binding court orders must come to an end."
Earlier, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie had ruled Halligan's appointment defective, leading to the dismissal of the Comey and James cases due to her central involvement. Bondi announced Halligan's exit on X that day, attributing it to an expired 120-day term, Senate Democrats, and legal hurdles. She noted Halligan would serve the country in other capacities.
The office, based in Alexandria, Virginia, has a storied history, with past holders including John Marshall, later chief justice of the Supreme Court. Halligan's prior work included reviewing Smithsonian Institution museums for alignment with administration priorities.
