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Abrupt dismissal follows judicial selection
The Trump administration removed James W. Hundley as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday, mere hours after a federal judicial panel unanimously appointed him to the role.
Judicial appointment sparks conflict
A three-judge panel selected Hundley, a veteran litigator with over 30 years of experience, to fill the vacancy left by Erik Siebert, who resigned in September under pressure from President Donald Trump. The judges cited a federal statute allowing them to name an interim prosecutor when a position remains unfilled.
Justice Department rejects judicial authority
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Hundley's termination on X, stating, "EDVA judges do not pick our U.S. Attorney. POTUS does." This marks the second time this month the administration has fired a prosecutor appointed by judges.
The Justice Department maintains that the president and attorney general retain sole authority to appoint interim U.S. attorneys, bypassing Senate confirmation. Critics argue this practice undermines judicial independence.
Legal battles over appointments expand
Courts in New York, New Jersey, California, and Nevada have previously ruled that Trump administration appointees to U.S. attorney roles were serving unlawfully. The Virginia dispute adds to a growing list of conflicts over prosecutorial appointments.
Hundley responds to dismissal
"It was a great honor to be appointed by the Court as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Despite my dismissal by the President, I will continue to support our country and its justice system in any way I can."
James W. Hundley
Political tensions fuel controversy
The Virginia appointment battle stems from broader disputes involving Trump's efforts to prosecute political adversaries. Siebert, Hundley's predecessor, had overseen an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James over alleged mortgage fraud. James, a Democrat who led a 2023 civil fraud case against Trump, dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and politically motivated.
Siebert's office declined to pursue criminal charges against James, citing insufficient evidence. Trump publicly demanded Siebert's removal, calling for his exit. Days later, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide and former personal attorney, to the role. Halligan swiftly secured grand jury indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Courts reject unlawful appointments
In November, a federal judge dismissed the cases against James and Comey, ruling that Halligan's appointment was unlawful. Comey, a longtime Trump critic, had been accused of lying to Congress about authorizing a leak of classified information.
