Lindsey Halligan departs as US Attorney after months-long standoff over her appointment

Alexandria, Virginia - Interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan finally departed from her position after a months-long standoff over the legality of her appointment.

Interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan has finally departed from her role after a months-long standoff.
Interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan has finally departed from her role after a months-long standoff.  © AFP/Marco Bello

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Halligan's departure on Tuesday, describing it as a "significant loss" and touting her achievements over a tenure that lasted only 120 days.

Halligan's departure comes two months after Virginia's Supreme Court in November ruled that she had been unlawfully appointed because local federal judges had the exclusive authority to fill her position.

The ruling triggered weeks of confusion as Halligan continued to cling to her position and represent the Eastern District of Virginia on criminal cases despite it looking unlikely her nomination would pass the Senate.

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Virginia judge David J. Novak on Tuesday called out Halligan's attempts to cling to the position, pointing out that she is not legally allowed to represent the district.

"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," he wrote less than 24 hours before her departure.

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Halligan was nominated in September, shortly after the Trump administration pushed out then-interim US attorney Erik Siebert by insisting that he pursue criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Shortly after entering the position, Halligan brought cases against James as well as former FBI Director James Comey. Both pursuits ended disastrously for Halligan when it was ruled that her appointment was unlawful.

"We are living in a time when a democratically elected president's ability to staff key law enforcement positions faces serious obstacles," Bondi complained.

"The Department of Justice will continue to seek review of decisions like this that hinder our ability to keep the American people safe."

Cover photo: AFP/Marco Bello

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