Lindsey Halligan: The Controversial Interim U. S. Attorney

Lindsey Halligan, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been stopped from pretending to be the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia. This decision came from a federal judge, who also chose not to take any disciplinary action against her for now, considering her lack of experience. Judge David Novak issued an order preventing Halligan from calling herself the United States Attorney in any court documents or proceedings. He stated that she could only hold this title if she is confirmed by the Senate or appointed by the court. The judge also warned that if she continues to misrepresent herself, she could face disciplinary action. Interestingly, this order came on the same day that the chief federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia posted a job opening for the top federal prosecutor position that Halligan had been occupying. The court is now accepting applications from attorneys interested in this role.Back in November, a judge ruled that Halligan was unlawfully serving in this position. This led to the dismissal of cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. These cases were brought forward by Halligan after President Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute them. The Trump administration tried and failed to indict James on mortgage-related charges after the Halligan-led case was dismissed. This was a significant setback, as federal grand jurors typically side with prosecutors. Additionally, a top attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia was recently fired over a dispute about re-indicting Comey. Halligan was nominated for the position for a second time on January 13, but the Senate has not yet confirmed her nomination. Despite this, the Justice Department still referred to her as the United States Attorney and Special Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. The White House has defended Halligan, stating that Attorney General Pam Bondi lawfully appointed her as the interim U. S. attorney. They also expressed confidence in their U. S. attorneys.