Kaine Statement on Judge’s Order Disqualifying Trump’s Unlawfully Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump unlawfully appointed Lindsey Halligan as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) since the position can only be carried out in an interim capacity without Senate or District Judges’ confirmation for 120 days. The 120-day clock began in January when Trump appointed Erik Siebert, who was forced out and replaced by Halligan after he refused to bring baseless criminal charges against Trump’s perceived enemies. As a result of the ruling, the cases brought by Halligan against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey were dismissed.

“President Trump forced a qualified U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia to resign so he could appoint an unqualified replacement with no prosecutorial experience who isn’t even licensed to practice law in Virginia. Why? In order to compel the initiation of criminal cases against his perceived political enemies. Today his blatant persecution effort blew up in his face,” Kaine said.

On January 21, 2025, the Trump Administration appointed Erik Siebert as the interim U.S. Attorney for the EDVA. In April, after an extensive interview process that included the input of a bipartisan panel of former Virginia U.S. Attorneys and other well-respected members of the Virginia legal community, Kaine and Senator Mark R. Warner sent a letter to the White House recommending Siebert for the U.S. Attorney position. In May, the White House announced that Siebert was formally nominated for the role. Siebert was serving in an interim capacity because he had not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 9, 2025, the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously voted for Seibert to continue as the interim U.S. Attorney. On September 22, 2025, Kaine slammed the Trump Administration’s politically motivated forcing out of Siebert.

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