{"id":2533872,"date":"2026-01-12T17:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T22:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-attorney-in-lindsey-halligans-office-ousted\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T17:07:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T22:07:06","slug":"top-attorney-in-lindsey-halligans-office-ousted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-attorney-in-lindsey-halligans-office-ousted\/","title":{"rendered":"Top attorney in Lindsey Halligan&#8217;s office ousted"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-attorney-in-lindsey-halligans-office-ousted%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2533872&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A leadership shake-up in teh U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia culminated with the firing of Robert McBride, the office&#8217;s no. 2 official. McBride was reportedly dismissed by U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan after refusing to lead efforts to reindict former FBI Director James Comey; he also allegedly met with federal judges seeking to replace halligan. Halligan,a Trump appointee who took the post in September,has faced multiple court rulings finding her appointment unlawful,wich has undercut indictments she brought against Comey and New york Attorney General Letitia James. McBride&#8217;s departure, reportedly supported by the Justice Department, leaves the office without a clear second-in<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-command amid ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abbott-will-attempt-to-use-crowdfunding-to-bankroll-texas-border-wall\/\" title=\"Abbott Will Attempt To Use Crowdfunding To Bankroll Texas Border Wall\">legal disputes<\/a><\/a> over who lawfully leads the district; the DOJ has at times listed Halligan, McBride, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on filings because of the confusion.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Top attorney in Lindsey Halligan&rsquo;s office ousted after disagreement in Comey case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2471122\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A leadership shake-up within the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-courts\/\">U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office<\/a> for the Eastern District of<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\"> Virginia<\/a> reached a new boiling point on Monday with the firing of Robert McBride, the office&rsquo;s No. 2 official.<\/p>\n<p>McBride&rsquo;s ouster marks the latest change in the district since President Donald Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, his former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/majority-of-americans-pleased-with-trump-transition-poll-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Majority of Americans pleased with Trump transition: Poll ... Washington Examiner\">personal defense attorney<\/a>, to lead it in September.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4414774\/jack-smith-opens-law-firm-former-doj-lawyers-worked-january-6-cases\/\">Jack Smith&nbsp;opens&nbsp;law firm with former DOJ lawyers who worked on Jan. 6 cases<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4414568\/bongino-podcast-return-february-amid-war-anti-trump-black-pillers\/\">Bongino makes podcast return in February amid war with anti-Trump &#8216;black-pillers&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4414287\/powell-defends-record-video-statement-after-criminal-inquiry-drops\/\">Powell defends his record in video statement after DOJ criminal inquiry drops<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>McBride <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/justice-department\/top-attorney-dismissed-prosecutors-office-run-lindsey-halligan-rcna253651\">reportedly got the boot<\/a> by Halligan after refusing to take the lead in the Trump administration&rsquo;s efforts to reindict former FBI Director James Comey.<\/p>\n<p>The abrupt exit, supported by officials with the Justice Department, leaves the office and Halligan without a right-hand man to manage the office and oversee investigations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Eastern District of Virginia has not issued a statement regarding the personnel change or the status of the Comey investigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>McBride also reportedly met with federal judges without permission in an effort to snag Halligan&rsquo;s position as U.S. attorney by court order, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/justice-department\/top-attorney-dismissed-prosecutors-office-run-lindsey-halligan-rcna253651\">according to <\/a>NBC.<\/p>\n<p>McBride&rsquo;s firing comes as Halligan&rsquo;s authority remains under heavy judicial fire.<\/p>\n<p>In November, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-dissidents-slam-nominee-for-top-defense-post\/\" title=\"Iranian Dissidents Slam Nominee for Top Defense Post\">federal judge ruled<\/a> that Halligan&rsquo;s appointment was unlawful, which effectively invalidated the indictments she secured against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4415063\/mark-kelly-sues-pete-hegseth-retirement-grade-reduction\/\"><strong>MARK KELLY SUES HEGSETH AND PENTAGON OVER POSSIBLE RETIREMENT GRADE REDUCTION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since then, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4409392\/halligan-ordered-to-defend-not-giving-up-us-attorney-job\/\">judges have continued <\/a>to tell Halligan that she no longer has the authority to lead the office.<\/p>\n<p>Due to legal disputes over which prosecutor holds leadership over the district, the DOJ recently included the names of Halligan, McBride, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on court documents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Halligan&#8217;s No.2 McBride ousted over Comey dispute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2533873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25282737343571.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[70728,70729,63774],"class_list":["post-2533872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-attorney-ousted","tag-law-office-shakeup","tag-lindsey-halligan"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25282737343571.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2533872"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2533876,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533872\/revisions\/2533876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2533873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2533872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2533872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2533872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}