Shakeup in Eastern District of Virginia: Two Federal Prosecutors Fired Amid Controversy
The Trump administration has dismissed two federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia who opposed the criminal case against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Kristin Bird and Elizabeth Yusi, both assistant U.S. attorneys in the Norfolk office, were fired from their positions. This move is part of a larger purge in the office, following the removal of Erik Siebert, the former interim U.S. attorney who did not pursue cases against James or former FBI Director James Comey.
The firings of Bird and Yusi add to the ongoing changes in the Eastern District of Virginia, with other officials like Michael Ben'Ary and Maggie Cleary also leaving their positions. Ben'Ary claims he was fired due to criticism from far-right social media figure Laura Loomer, while Cleary briefly led the office before Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide and Trump personal lawyer, was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney. Halligan quickly brought criminal charges against Comey for allegedly lying to Congress.
As the case against James progresses, uncertainties arise about who will represent the Justice Department at the upcoming arraignment. Halligan, who secured James' indictment, has not appeared in the Norfolk federal court. James' defense lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has enlisted the help of former Norfolk-based assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Bosse to serve as local counsel at the arraignment and in future proceedings. The Justice Department has not provided any comments on the recent developments.