President Donald Trump has dropped a bombshell by nominating Lindsey Halligan, a trusted former attorney and White House aide, for the pivotal U.S. Attorney role in Virginia’s Eastern District.
Fox News reported that amid an ongoing probe into alleged mortgage fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump withdrew his prior nominee over the weekend, fired the previous officeholder, Erik Siebert, and ultimately tapped Halligan to restore what he sees as much-needed credibility to the position.
The saga began heating up on Saturday evening when Trump was mulling over Halligan for the job, pitching her to Attorney General Pam Bondi as a sharp legal mind with a personal affinity for Bondi’s leadership.
Just hours before Trump’s suggestion, Bondi had temporarily elevated Mary “Maggie” Cleary, a seasoned attorney with deep ties to Virginia’s legal system and recent experience in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, to the acting role.
Yet, Trump’s decision to go with Halligan—a familiar face from his inner circle who represented him in the now-dismissed classified documents case and was present during the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago—signals a preference for loyalty and alignment with his broader vision.
Halligan’s resume isn’t just courtroom battles; during her White House stint, she’s been tasked with reshaping content at Smithsonian museums to emphasize American exceptionalism and strip out what the administration views as divisive narratives.
Before Halligan’s nomination, the Eastern District office was led by Erik Siebert, whom Trump unceremoniously fired, claiming Siebert misled the media by saying he resigned voluntarily and downplayed the case against James.
Trump didn’t mince words, branding Siebert a “Woke RINO” unfit for the job, and pointedly noted the strong support Siebert received from Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner as evidence of misplaced priorities.
According to an ABC News report, Siebert’s ouster may be tied to his failure to uncover incriminating evidence against James, who is accused of listing her Norfolk home as a primary residence to snag a favorable mortgage rate—allegations she firmly denies.
The investigation into James, launched in April, remains active under the Eastern District’s purview, though no charges have been filed against her to date.
Trump insists there’s a strong case, claiming many legal experts agree, and has expressed frustration over delays, stating, “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility.”
That urgency underscores his push for Halligan, someone he believes will pursue justice without bowing to what he sees as the progressive agenda that’s infiltrated too many institutions.
James’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, fired back at Siebert’s dismissal, arguing it sends a “chilling message” to prosecutors who prioritize law over politics—a critique that, while impassioned, sidesteps the core issue of whether James’s actions warrant scrutiny.
If confirmed, Halligan will step into a pressure cooker, tasked with navigating a high-profile probe while aligning with Trump’s mission to rebuild trust in America’s legal and cultural frameworks—hardly a small feat in today’s polarized climate.