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In a dramatic turn of events, the Justice Department swiftly dismissed a lawyer appointed by judges as the top federal prosecutor for a Virginia office known for pursuing cases against President Donald Trump’s adversaries. This move underscores the ongoing tension over the appointment of influential U.S. attorneys.
The announcement of James Hundley’s termination came from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche via social media. His dismissal followed closely on the heels of his unanimous selection by judges to succeed Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump attorney, as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The legal framework allows district courts to appoint U.S. attorneys when the initial appointment period concludes. However, the Trump administration has consistently maintained that such authority resides solely with the executive branch.
“EDVA judges do not pick our U.S. Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!” Blanche declared in a post on X, emphasizing the administration’s stance.
James Hundley, who boasts over 30 years of experience in handling both criminal and civil cases, did not immediately respond to a request for comment made via email on Friday evening.
The firing of Hundley is the latest reflection of tumult in one of the Justice Department’s most elite prosecution offices, which since September has been mired in upheaval following the resignation of a veteran prosecutor amid Trump administration pressure to prosecute two of the president’s biggest political foes, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
That prosecutor, Erik Siebert, was effectively forced out and swiftly replaced by Halligan, a White House aide who secured indictments against Comey and James but was later deemed by a judge to have been unlawfully appointed.
The cases were dismissed, but the Justice Department has appealed that decision.
Halligan resigned from the position last month after judges in the district signaled continued skepticism over the legitimacy of her appointment.
US attorneys, the top federal prosecutors in regional Justice Department offices around the country, typically require Senate confirmation but the law does permit attorneys general to make temporary appointments for limited time periods.
In several instances, though, the Justice Department has attempted to leave its temporary appointees in place in ways that have invited court challenges and drawn resistance from judges who have found the appointments unlawful.
Last week, a lawyer appointed by judges to be the US attorney for northern New York was fired by the Justice Department after spending less than a day in the job.
Judges in the district appointed Kinsella after declining to keep the Trump administration’s pick, John Sarcone, in place after his 120-day term elapsed.