Former Trump lawyer Halligan defends US prosecutor status in wake of Comey, James dismissals
FIRST ON FOX: Former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan argued in a new court filing Tuesday that a judge’s November ruling dismissing two criminal cases does not undermine her authority to...
By Fox News · Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: Former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan argued in a new court filing Tuesday that a judge’s November ruling dismissing two criminal cases does not undermine her authority to serve as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia or to represent the federal government in ongoing cases. The new filing, previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital, comes amid a swirl of leadership questions within the U.S. prosecutor's office for the Eastern District of Virginia, dubbed the "rocket docket" due to the court's swift handling of federal cases, including many high-profile national security cases, and just hours after the news that Halligan’s deputy, Robert McBride, longtime federal prosecutor and second-highest-ranking U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, was dismissed from his role amid broader disagreements with DOJ. U.S. District Judge James Currie in November ruled Halligan was unlawfully appointed to her role as interim U.S. attorney for the district, and ordered dismissed without prejudice the criminal cases she brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. (The Justice Department has appealed both dismissals to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.) The back-and-forth over Halligan's status came under fresh scrutiny last week, after U.S. District Judge David Novak issued an unprompted court order for Halligan to explain to the court, in writing, her continued representation as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and why that "does not constitute a false or misleading statement," which Novak suggested could be grounds for disciplinary proceedings. Novak further asserted that Currie's determination on the unlawful nature of Halligan's appointment represents "binding precedent in this district" and should not be ignored. COMEY SEEKS TO TOSS CRIMINAL CASE CALLING TRUMP PROSECUTOR 'UNLAWFUL' APPOINTEE The response filed Tuesday by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney…