Lindsey Halligan leaves post as US attorney after judges’ sharp criticism | US politics
Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed federal lawyer who led the unsuccessful trials of two of the president’s political opponents, has left her post at the U.S. justice department, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday.
It follows the departure of Halligan, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney multiple judges He harshly criticized him and cast doubt on his legal ability to remain in office.
Halligan, who has no prosecutorial experience, was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia in September after the president fired his predecessor who refused to file charges against New York attorney general Letitia James and former FBI director James Comey. Halligan oversaw indictments against James and Comey that were criticized as politically vindictive, and a judge dismissed the cases in November.
The judge dismissed the cases and ruled that Halligan had been appointed unlawfully. did not have legal authority Bringing charges against James and Comey.
Attorneys general can appoint interim U.S. attorneys to serve 120 days, but Halligan’s appointment was deemed illegal because his predecessor had already served 120 days; This means that federal judges in the district have this authority. exclusive jurisdiction to fill the position. The Senate must confirm the U.S. attorney within 120 days of his appointment.
Justice Department lawyers argued that the administration had the authority to make successive interim appointments, but at least six federal judges The Washington Post noted that they rejected this claim.
Halligan’s departure comes at a time when he is facing increasing scrutiny. On Tuesday, federal judge David Novak said he removed the words “United States attorney” from the indictment’s signature and that Halligan was barred from continuing to represent himself by that title. reported. The judge threatened to take disciplinary action against Halligan if he violated the order and continued to identify himself as a U.S. attorney.
“For all her machinations, Ms. Halligan has no legal basis to represent to this Court that she holds this position. And any such forward-looking statement can only be described as a false statement made in direct defiance of applicable court orders,” Novak wrote. “In short, this charade in which Ms. Halligan poses as the U.S. Attorney for this District in direct defiance of binding court orders must end.”
In a separate order Tuesday, M Hannah Lauck, chief judge for the eastern district of Virginia, ordered a clerk to post a job posting for a U.S. attorney job, saying: the position was vacant.
Bondi praised Halligan in her social media post and said Halligan “fulfilled his responsibilities with courage and determination.”
“The circumstances that led to this outcome were deeply misguided,” Bondi added. “We live in a time when a democratically elected President faces serious obstacles to appointing staff to key law enforcement positions.”
Halligan and a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office for the eastern district of Virginia did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday night.
Associated Press contributed reporting
