Trump’s aide named interim U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Senior White House aide Lindsey Halligan has been sworn in as Virginia's interim top federal prosecutor after former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert resigned under pressure from President Donald Trump, multiple media outlets reported.

Halligan, appointed by Trump as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn into office at the Justice Department on Monday, Sept. 22, multiple media outlets reported.

She was reportedly sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Trump announced her nomination through social media posts, saying the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia needed a "tough prosecutor" in order "to get things moving."

FILE - Lindsey Halligan, special assistant to the president, speaks with a reporter outside of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

The post further said: "What we don’t need is a Democrat Endorsed 'Republican.' I will be nominating Lindsey Halligan to be the United States Attorney in this very important part of our Great Country. She will be Fair, Smart, and will provide, desperately needed, JUSTICE FOR ALL!"

Siebert resigned under pressure from Trump, who has been demanding his office indict New York Attorney General Letitia James for fraud for months.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has been investigating James for several months at the direction of the Trump administration. They were searching for evidence of mortgage fraud relating to James’ Virginia home, but no evidence has been produced by investigators.

In February 2024, James won a civil fraud lawsuit she levied against Trump, with a judge fining him over $354 million, plus interest.

“It looks to me like [James] is very guilty of something, but I really don’t know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Sept. 18, according to ABC News.

Trump then told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl that he wanted to fire Siebert, saying "I want him out."

Siebert later resigned. He was with the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010, when he was hired as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Siebert took on the role of interim U.S. Attorney in January of this year after his predecessor, Jessica D. Aber, resigned.