February 20, 2026 at 09:18PM
Justice Department says interim US attorney is fired hours after Virginia judges appoint him to replace Trump loyalist
Interim U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia was fired hours after federal judges appointed him to replace a Trump loyalist, Lindsey Halligan. The Justice Department confirmed the dismissal amid ongoing leadership changes in the district. The abrupt firing followed the judges’ appointment and raises questions about the administration’s handling of the interim leadership role.