Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor appointed by former President Donald Trump, is facing significant uncertainty regarding her position in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. This follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, which declared that Halligan’s appointment as interim U.S. attorney was unlawful, thereby invalidating the charges she filed against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently assessing its options on how to proceed with the cases against Comey and James, both of whom have been targets of Trump’s political grievances. Halligan’s involvement in these discussions appears to be limited, as insiders report she has not been included in conversations regarding her employment status. It remains unclear whether she will report to her office in Alexandria, Virginia, on Monday.
Following the ruling from Judge Currie, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, Pam Bondi, the current Attorney General, spoke with Halligan but did not clarify her employment status. The confusion surrounding Halligan’s role is indicative of the chaotic environment that has characterized her brief tenure, which has lasted only 63 days.
Halligan’s selection as interim U.S. attorney came after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned rather than comply with pressure to prosecute Comey and James on contentious allegations. Halligan initiated charges against Comey shortly after Trump expressed dissatisfaction on social media, claiming that “nothing is being done” to address his concerns.
Recent scrutiny of Halligan’s actions revealed potential prosecutorial misconduct. Reports indicated that a grand jury had not reviewed the complete indictment before the foreperson signed the charging document against Comey. This misstep has raised questions about the validity of the charges.
The DOJ is contemplating an appeal against the ruling that deemed Halligan’s appointment unlawful and may explore options to refile charges against Comey and James. An official from DOJ headquarters denied that Halligan is being excluded from discussions, asserting that a memo will clarify her status as not being removed due to Currie’s ruling.
As of now, Halligan remains listed as the lead attorney on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Eastern District of Virginia, despite ongoing confusion about her position. An internal email from DOJ officials, which was reviewed by CNN, mistakenly referred to Halligan with misspellings in her title, including “Unites States Attorny” and “special U.S. Attorney.”
The developing situation around Halligan’s role raises concerns about the integrity of the legal process and the politicization of the Justice Department. As the DOJ navigates the implications of Judge Currie’s ruling, the political landscape continues to shift, leaving Halligan’s future as a prosecutor in doubt.
