Trump Administration Fires Judge‑Chosen Virginia U.S. Attorney Hours After Appointment
Updated (3 articles)
Judges Unanimously Select Veteran Lawyer James Hundley On Friday, February 21, 2026, the Eastern District of Virginia judges appointed James Hundley, a lawyer with more than three decades of criminal and civil experience, as interim U.S. attorney, replacing Lindsey Halligan after her controversial tenure [1][2][3]. The judges invoked statutory authority that permits them to fill the vacancy left by Erik Siebert’s September resignation [1][3]. Hundley praised the appointment as “a great honor” and pledged to serve the nation despite the political turbulence [1].
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Announces Immediate Dismissal Within hours, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X, “POTUS does… James Hundley, you’re fired!” asserting the President’s exclusive power to name U.S. attorneys [1][2][3]. White House deputy chief Dan Scavino later replied, “Check your email, James,” indicating an official termination notice was sent [2]. The firing marks the second judge‑selected prosecutor removed by the Trump administration in February [1].
Hundley Provides No Public Comment as DOJ Remains Silent Requests for a statement from Hundley went unanswered, and the Justice Department did not respond to CNN’s inquiries [2]. The lack of comment underscores the rapid, unilateral nature of the dismissal and the administration’s reluctance to engage with the media on the matter [2][3]. No further explanation was offered beyond the claim that only the President can decide the appointment [1][3].
Dismissals Highlight Ongoing DOJ‑Court Conflict Over Appointments The Hundley firing follows earlier removals of Erik Siebert, Lindsey Halligan, and Northern New York’s John Sarcone, all of whom were selected by district judges and subsequently dismissed by the Justice Department [1][3]. Courts in New York, New Jersey, California and Nevada have ruled that similar Trump‑appointed attorneys were unlawfully installed, reinforcing judicial authority to appoint interim U.S. attorneys until Senate confirmation [1][3]. Legal scholars note that while the Attorney General may make limited‑term appointments, the pattern of rapid dismissals signals a broader power struggle between the executive branch and the federal judiciary [3].
Sources
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1.
BBC: Trump Administration Dismisses Judge‑Appointed Virginia Prosecutor Hours After Hire: Details the judges’ unanimous appointment of Hundley, Todd Blanche’s X announcement, and the broader pattern of judge‑selected prosecutors being fired, emphasizing the clash over New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey cases .
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2.
CNN: DOJ Says Interim U.S. Attorney Fired Hours After Virginia Judges Appoint Him: Highlights the appointment, Blanche’s tweet, Dan Scavino’s “check your email” directive, and the lack of comment from Hundley and the DOJ, focusing on procedural aspects of the dismissal .
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3.
AP: Justice Department Dismisses Judge‑Selected U.S. Attorney in Virginia: Reports the firing, Hundley’s background, the ongoing DOJ‑court clash, and references similar dismissals in other districts, providing context on legal frameworks and previous cases .
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Timeline
Sep 2025 – Erik Siebert resigns as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after presidential pressure to pursue prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, creating a vacancy that judges later fill under statutory authority[3].
Nov 2025 – A federal court dismisses indictments against James Comey and Letitia James, ruling that White House aide Lindsey Halligan’s appointment as interim U.S. attorney was unlawful and affirming district judges’ power to appoint attorneys until a Senate nominee is confirmed[3].
Jan 2026 – Lindsey Halligan’s interim tenure ends and she resigns after the November ruling and continued judicial skepticism over her authority to bring cases, leaving the Eastern District of Virginia without a confirmed U.S. attorney[2].
Early Feb 2026 – The Northern District of New York briefly installs judge‑selected lawyer John Sarcone as interim U.S. attorney, but the Justice Department dismisses him after less than a day when his 120‑day term expires, underscoring the administration’s push to control appointments[3].
Feb 21, 2026 – Eastern District of Virginia judges unanimously appoint veteran defense lawyer James Hundley as interim U.S. attorney, invoking a law that lets them fill the vacancy left by Siebert’s term expiration[2].
Feb 21, 2026 (hours later) – Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posts on X, “EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!” asserting the President’s exclusive appointment power[1].
Feb 21, 2026 (same day) – Blanche tweets again, “Here we go again… POTUS does… James Hundley, you’re fired!” and White House deputy chief Dan Scavino replies, “Check your email, James,” indicating an official termination notice has been sent[2].
Feb 21, 2026 (after firing) – James Hundley issues a BBC statement calling his court appointment “a great honor” and pledges to keep supporting the country and its justice system despite being dismissed[1].
Feb 21, 2026 (ongoing) – The Hundley firing marks the second judge‑appointed prosecutor removal this month, highlighting a broader clash between the Trump administration and district courts over U.S. attorney selections, following similar rulings in New York, New Jersey, California and Nevada that deemed Trump‑appointed attorneys unlawful[1].
External resources (1 links)
- https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2024993246175261137?s=20 (cited 1 times)