A Judge Says Stop the Pretend Game: Trump's Picked Prosecutor Can't Use Her Title

A judge has told Lindsey Halligan, a prosecutor who supports former President Donald Trump, to stop calling herself a "U. S. Attorney. " This comes after a court found that her appointment was not legal. Judge David Novak, who was appointed by Trump, said that Halligan's continued use of the title is like a pretend game. He warned that if she or any other prosecutor keeps using the title in his court, they might face disciplinary action. Halligan has been involved in criminal cases against two of Trump's political opponents: former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A different judge, Cameron McGowan Currie, threw out these cases in November. Currie said that Halligan's appointment was not legal because it violated a federal law. This law says that U. S. Attorneys can only serve one 120-day interim period.The Justice Department is appealing Currie's ruling, but they have not asked to pause the order. They argue that the ruling only applies to the cases against Comey and James, not other cases. However, Novak said that the department's recent filing was disrespectful and not appropriate for a court setting. Meanwhile, the chief judge of the court is looking for someone to replace Halligan. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche hinted that Trump might fire any replacement named by the court. This situation shows a clash between the Trump administration and Virginia's federal judges over Halligan's appointment and the cases she pursued.