Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been forced to step down, blaming Senate Democrats for blocking her from continuing in the role beyond her 120-day appointment.
In a statement posted on X, Bondi praised Halligan’s performance and sharply criticized Senate Democrats for what she described as deliberate obstruction. Bondi said Halligan served “with the utmost distinction and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law” during her tenure, but accused Democrats of abusing the Senate’s blue slip process to prevent her from remaining in the position once her temporary appointment expired.
According to Bondi, the use of the blue slip process made it impossible for Halligan’s term as U.S. attorney to continue past the statutory 120-day limit. She called Halligan’s departure a significant loss for both the Department of Justice and the communities she served, adding that while her absence will be felt, she expects Halligan to continue serving the country in other capacities.
Bondi said the circumstances surrounding Halligan’s removal were deeply misguided and warned that the situation reflects broader challenges facing the current administration. She argued that a democratically elected president is being prevented from staffing key law enforcement positions, creating serious obstacles for the Justice Department’s mission. Bondi said the department will continue seeking review of decisions that, in her view, undermine public safety by hamstringing federal law enforcement leadership.
Earlier Tuesday, Chief District Judge M. Hannah Lauck posted a job opening for a new interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and issued an order stating that Halligan could not serve in the role beyond the 120-day limit. That order formally ended Halligan’s tenure and set the stage for a replacement.
Bondi originally selected Halligan after President Trump’s prior nominee for the post, Erik Siebert, declined to pursue an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James related to mortgage fraud allegations. After taking the role, Halligan opened inquiries into James as well as former FBI Director James Comey, examining allegations that both had lied during congressional testimony.
Halligan later defended her authority to remain in office after U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie ruled in November that she was ineligible to continue serving and dismissed the cases against James and Comey. Currie concluded that Halligan’s appointment had expired while Siebert was still U.S. attorney and ruled that she could not legally serve as the district’s top federal prosecutor. That ruling directly challenged Halligan’s authority and set off a series of legal disputes.
On Jan. 6, U.S. District Judge David Novak ordered Halligan to explain why she continued performing her duties after Currie’s ruling. In response, Halligan submitted an 11-page filing arguing that she had not misrepresented her status and sharply disputing the court’s interpretation. The filing said the court was wrong to suggest any changes were needed to how the government identified itself in court filings.
Halligan’s removal is not an isolated case. She is one of several Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys who have been disqualified in recent months. Top federal prosecutors in New Jersey, the Northern District of New York, Nevada, and the California district covering Los Angeles have also been disqualified, with an additional challenge still pending against a prosecutor in New Mexico.
The situation highlights an ongoing clash between the administration and the courts, as well as between the White House and Senate Democrats, over control of key Justice Department positions.
