House Judiciary Democrats probe Siebert ouster after Lindsey Halligan sworn in as interim U.S. attorney
House Judiciary Committee Democrats have opened a formal review of the ouster of Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert — demanding performance evaluations and all communications between DOJ and the White House about prosecution referrals since Jan. 20, 2025 — after Siebert resigned Sept. 19 amid pressure from President Trump to pursue mortgage‑fraud charges against New York AG Letitia James, a probe that has produced no charges to date. Trump has said he fired Siebert and has nominated White House aide Lindsey Halligan, who was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for up to 120 days despite having no prior prosecutorial experience, raising concerns about politicization of U.S. attorney appointments.
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📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Playbook: Trump's new public pressure campaign
"Politico’s Playbook frames Trump’s EDVA shake‑up and public calls for prosecutions as a coordinated ‘pressure campaign’ on DOJ, warning it blurs traditional boundaries between the White House and law enforcement to achieve political and legal aims."
📰 Sources (11)
Transcript: Sen. Tim Kaine on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Sept. 28, 2025
New information:
- Sen. Kaine raised the recent resignations of two U.S. attorneys in Virginia—Todd Gilbert (Western District) and Eric Siebert (Eastern District)—linking them to presidential personnel choices and partisan pressure.
- Kaine characterized the nominees as having 'Republican bona fides' and suggested the pattern reflects broader politicization of U.S. attorney posts.
Transcript: Sen. Amy Klobuchar on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Sept. 28, 2025
New information:
- Transcript shows Klobuchar (a Judiciary Committee member) raising the topic on air and linking recent U.S. Attorney personnel changes to broader concerns — adding a Democratic senator's direct, public perspective to the developing controversy.
- The interview text explicitly references the resignation of Erik Siebert and the swearing‑in of Lindsey Halligan, confirming that the issue is being discussed at senior Senate levels.
House Judiciary Democrats launch probe of Virginia U.S. attorney's ouster
New information:
- House Judiciary Committee Democrats have launched a formal review and sent a letter to AG Pam Bondi seeking Siebert's performance evaluations and communications.
- The committee requested 'all communications between any official or employee at the Justice Department and any official or employee at the White House... regarding prosecution referrals' from Jan. 20, 2025 to present.
- Democrats also demanded records about Lindsey Halligan's selection and appointment, including vetting materials and any promises or commitments regarding prosecutions.
Unease grows at the Justice Department as Trump's threats get even more blunt
New information:
- NPR specifies Halligan was sworn in Monday and notes she has no prosecutorial experience.
- Adds that Halligan had been assisting President Trump in efforts to remove what he calls “improper ideology” from Smithsonian museums.
- Reiterates Siebert left under pressure after declining to bring criminal charges the president wanted against New York AG Letitia James.
- Reports broader DOJ attrition: thousands of employees have left in 2025, with nearly all of the Public Integrity Section gone and roughly three-quarters of Civil Rights Division attorneys departed (per source quoted).
- Quotes a former DOJ attorney alleging AG Pam Bondi’s Day 1 memo framed DOJ lawyers as the president’s lawyers, fueling internal unease.
Lindsey Halligan sworn in as interim U.S. attorney
New information:
- Lindsey Halligan has been sworn in and is serving as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Under federal law, her interim term is limited to 120 days unless extended by the district court or she is Senate‑confirmed.
- Siebert resigned amid concerns he would be forced out over not prosecuting New York AG Letitia James; Trump publicly claimed he fired him.
- Background details on Halligan’s recent White House role include signing a letter initiating a Smithsonian review to align exhibits with administration directives.
- Halligan has never worked in a prosecutor’s office; she previously handled insurance claims and served on Trump’s defense team in the classified‑documents case.
Trump nominates White House aide to be top US prosecutor for office probing Letitia James
New information:
- President Trump publicly announced he is nominating senior White House aide Lindsey Halligan to be U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Trump posted an open letter pressuring Attorney General Pam Bondi to move quickly on investigations, later saying she is "doing a GREAT job."
- New Trump quote at the White House: "We have to act fast — one way or the other... If they're not guilty, that's fine. If they are guilty or if they should be charged, they should be charged."
- AP/NPR reporting notes DOJ’s months‑long mortgage‑fraud probe into New York AG Letitia James has shown no indication of incriminating evidence sufficient for an indictment to date.
- Details on the probe’s origin: alleged paperwork discrepancies tied to James’ Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home; James’ lawyers deny wrongdoing and call the probe political.
- Background on Halligan: part of Trump’s legal team during the early Mar‑a‑Lago classified documents investigation; more recently involved in a White House effort to remove "improper ideology" from Smithsonian properties.
- Context added that the FBI investigated former FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram post; he was interviewed by the Secret Service and removed the post after concerns over interpretation.
Trump nominates senior White House aide for top federal prosecutor in Virginia
New information:
- President Trump has now formally nominated Lindsey Halligan to be U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Trump’s Truth Social post calls Halligan “tough, smart, and loyal,” and says she will work with AG Pam Bondi and DAG Todd Blanche.
- Halligan’s background includes serving as one of Trump’s attorneys post–Mar‑a‑Lago search and a recent White House role focused on Smithsonian content.
White House names acting U.S. attorney for office probing Letitia James
New information:
- Mary “Maggie” Cleary told EDVA staff in a Saturday email (obtained by CBS) that she has been named acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Cleary replaces Erik Siebert, who resigned amid Trump administration pressure to bring mortgage‑fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James; Trump publicly claimed he fired Siebert.
- Cleary’s background: senior counsel in DOJ’s Criminal Division; former federal prosecutor in the Western District of Virginia; prior roles under Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and AG Jason Miyares.
- Cleary authored a Spectator World piece describing being falsely identified as present at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 while she was a federal prosecutor; she said she was placed on leave, interviewed, and later cleared.
- Her email to staff said, “While this appointment was unexpected, I am humbled to be joining your ranks,” and referenced EDVA’s “distinguished legacy.”
- CBS reports DOJ’s months‑long probe of James has not produced charges and there’s no indication prosecutors have found evidence sufficient for an indictment.
U.S. attorney pressured to charge Letitia James in mortgage fraud case has resigned
New information:
- AP reports Siebert confirmed his resignation in an internal email to colleagues; AP reviewed the email.
- DOJ spokespeople declined to comment on the resignation.
- It is not immediately clear who will replace Siebert as U.S. attorney.
- AP details that the probe focused on paperwork discrepancies tied to Letitia James’ Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home.
- Trump’s on‑record Oval Office remark: “It looks to me like she’s really guilty of something, but I really don’t know.”
- AP notes ABC News was first to report the pressure on prosecutors and the planned ouster.
- Siebert had been nominated by Trump earlier this year before his resignation.
Trump says prosecutor fired after gaining "UNUSUALLY STRONG" Democratic support
New information:
- President Trump publicly claimed he did not accept Erik Siebert’s resignation but instead fired him and withdrew his nomination.
- Trump said he acted after learning Siebert had "UNUSUALLY STRONG" support from Virginia’s Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
- Axios reiterates that Siebert did not bring mortgage‑fraud charges against New York AG Letitia James and declined to prosecute James Comey based on allegations referred by DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
U.S. attorney resigns under pressure from Trump to charge N.Y. AG Letitia James
New information:
- Siebert resigned Sept. 19, 2025, following Trump’s public remark that he wanted Siebert 'out.'
- The DOJ investigation into alleged paperwork discrepancies tied to Letitia James’ properties has produced no charges to date.
- Top deputy Maya Song will leave the first assistant role to work as a line prosecutor; DOJ declined comment on leadership changes.