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Bondi Announces Departure of Halligan From U.S. Attorney’s Office in Virginia
MLN-21 JAN 2026: Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday announced the departure of Lindsey Halligan from her role as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, blaming Senate Democrats for blocking her continuation beyond a 120-day appointment period.
In a statement posted on X, Bondi praised Halligan’s service and said her departure was the result of Senate Democrats using the, blue slip process, to prevent her from remaining in the role.
“During her 120-day tenure as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan served with the utmost distinction and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law,” Bondi said. She added that Senate Democrats had “weaponized the blue slip process, making it impossible for Lindsey’s term as United States Attorney to continue following the expiration of her 120-day appointment.”
Bondi described Halligan’s exit as a significant loss for the Department of Justice and the communities she served, adding that while her absence would be felt, she was confident Halligan would, continue to serve her country in other ways.
“The circumstances that led to this outcome are deeply misguided,” Bondi said. “We are living in a time when a democratically elected President’s ability to staff key law enforcement positions faces serious obstacles. The Department of Justice will continue to seek review of decisions like this that hinder our ability to keep the American people safe.”
Earlier Tuesday, Chief U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck posted a vacancy notice for an interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and entered an order stating that Halligan, may not serve in the role beyond the 120-day limit set by statute.
Halligan was appointed by Bondi after President Donald Trump’s prior nominee for the position, Erik Siebert, declined to pursue an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. Following Halligan’s appointment, she launched inquiries involving James and former FBI Director James Comey.
In November, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie ruled that Halligan was not eligible to continue serving as the district’s top federal prosecutor, finding that her appointment had expired while Siebert was still U.S. attorney. Currie dismissed the cases against James and Comey, concluding that Halligan lacked authority to pursue them.
On Jan. 6, U.S. District Judge David Novak ordered Halligan to explain why she continued performing her duties after Currie’s ruling. In an 11, page filing submitted to Novak, Halligan defended her actions.
“The bottom line is that Ms. Halligan has not misrepresented anything and the Court is flat wrong to suggest that any change to the Government’s signature block is warranted in this or any other case,” the filing stated.
Halligan is among several U.S. attorneys appointed during Trump’s second term whose authority has been challenged or invalidated. Judges have disqualified top federal prosecutors in New Jersey, the Northern District of New York, Nevada and the California district covering Los Angeles. A similar challenge remains pending against a prosecutor in New Mexico.
The Justice Department has not announced who will replace Halligan or whether the administration will nominate a permanent U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
