Trump administration fires new top prosecutor in Eastern Virginia almost immediately after he was hired by judges
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- A panel of judges appointed James W. Hundley as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, citing federal law that allows judicial appointments when the position is vacant due to an expired interim term.
- The Trump administration quickly fired Hundley, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that only the president can appoint U.S. attorneys, rejecting the judges' appointment.
- The conflict follows months of legal disputes over the legitimacy of interim U.S. attorneys appointed by the Trump administration, including the dismissal of indictments secured by Lindsey Halligan, who was ruled unlawfully appointed.
- Federal judges in multiple states, including Virginia, New York, New Jersey, California, and Nevada, have ruled against the administration's temporary U
