{"id":2572139,"date":"2026-02-20T22:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T03:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawyer-chosen-as-top-federal-prosecutor-in-virginia-fired-just-hours-later\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T03:48:43","slug":"lawyer-chosen-as-top-federal-prosecutor-in-virginia-fired-just-hours-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawyer-chosen-as-top-federal-prosecutor-in-virginia-fired-just-hours-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawyer chosen as top federal prosecutor in Virginia fired just hours later"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Flawyer-chosen-as-top-federal-prosecutor-in-virginia-fired-just-hours-later%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=2572139&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 Washington Examiner report describes a rapid turnover in the eastern District of Virginia, where James Hundley, a defense attorney chosen by federal judges to serve as interim U.S. Attorney, was fired just hours after his appointment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Hundley was appointed by a panel of EDVA judges to replace Lindsey Halligan, whose Trump-era term ended in January.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Hundley\u2019s firing on X (formerly Twitter) the same day.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The episode highlights a dispute over who appoints U.S. Attorneys: judges can name an interim when a previous term expires and no Senate-confirmed nominee is in place, but the Trump management argues final authority lies with the President.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The firing mirrors a similar case in New York, where attorney Donald Kinsella was dismissed hours after being selected by judges.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Background: Halligan, a former personal attorney to Trump, secured indictments against James Comey and Letitia James, but Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Halligan was unlawfully appointed because an interim appointment had already been made; the DOJ has appealed.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Virginia judges are seeking a replacement to serve \u201cuntil the position is filled by a Senate-confirmed person,\u201d with applications due by February 10.<\/p>\n<p>The article frames this as part of ongoing controversy over EDVA U.S. Attorney appointments and their political implications.  <\/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\">Lawyer chosen as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-muscles-out-chicago-prosecutor-hot-on-the-heels-of-powerful-dems\/\" title=\"Biden Muscles Out Chicago Prosecutor Hot on the Heels of Powerful Dems\">top federal prosecutor<\/a> for Virginia is fired just hours later<\/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_2511810\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> has fired a lawyer picked to serve as the top federal prosecutor in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>, just hours after he was appointed by judges.<\/p>\n<p>The panel of federal judges selected defense attorney James Hundley to serve as the interim <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/district-attorney\/\">U.S. Attorney<\/a> for the Eastern District of Virginia, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4426808\/lindsey-halligan-leaves-attorney-post\/\">replacing Lindsey Halligan<\/a>, the appointee of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> whose term lapsed in January. But Hundley did not see out the day, as Deputy Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> announced his firing on X on Friday evening.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4465085\/why-fbi-never-questioned-les-wexner-jeffrey-epstein\/\">Why the FBI never questioned Epstein benefactor Les Wexner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4465008\/everybody-scrambling-distance-jeffrey-epstein-hugo-gurdon\/\">Everybody is &#8216;scrambling&#8217; to distance themselves from Epstein: Hugo Gurdon<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4464873\/vietnam-veterans-sue-stop-construction-trump-independence-arch\/\">Vietnam veterans sue to stop construction of Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Independence Arch&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Here we go again. EDVA judges do not pick our U.S. Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you&rsquo;re fired!&rdquo; Blanche <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2024993246175261137?s=20\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>District court judges are legally allowed to appoint an interim U.S. attorney when the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >previous interim appointee&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s 120-day term expires, and the Senate has not confirmed another nominee. But the Trump administration has argued against this method, maintaining that final authority over nominations to U.S. attorney positions lies with the President.<\/p>\n<p>The president also retains the right to fire any court-appointed U.S. attorney, leaving the district in a possible push-and-pull loop. <\/p>\n<p>The move nearly identically mirrors that of a DOJ firing last week, in which Blanche announced attorney Donald Kinsella was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4455921\/doj-fires-judge-appointed-acting-attorney-new-york\/\">fired from his post<\/a> as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of&nbsp;New York just hours after he was selected by judges. Kinsella was tapped to replace interim Trump-appointed John Sarcone III after his 120-day term expired.<\/p>\n<p>The EDVA has been the focus of controversy over the past several months as Halligan, a former personal attorney to Trump, secured indictments against former FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comey\/\">James Comey<\/a> and New York Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/letitia-james\/\">Letitia James<\/a>, both perceived as political enemies of Trump. She has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huckabee-on-bidens-lack-of-leadership-in-crisis-presidents-go-to-the-point-where-people-are-hurting\/\" title=\"Huckabee criticizes Biden&#039;s leadership: Presidents should address people&#039;s pain.\">faced numerous questions<\/a> from their attorneys over the legality of her appointment. <\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3897002\/james-comey-letitia-james-indictments-tossed-lindsey-halligan\/\">ruled in November<\/a> that Halligan was unlawfully appointed because the DOJ had already appointed a 120-day interim U.S. Attorney before her, dismissing the indictments against Comey and James. The DOJ has appealed that ruling.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4455921\/doj-fires-judge-appointed-acting-attorney-new-york\/\">DOJ FIRES JUDGE-APPOINTED ACTING US ATTORNEY IN NEW YORK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Virginia judges announced they would be <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4425628\/virginia-federal-judges-seek-replacement-trump-appointed-lindsey-halligan\/\">seeking a replacement<\/a> for Halligan after her term expired in January, asking interested lawyers to apply by Feb. 10. The court marketed the position as one that runs &ldquo;until the position is filled by a Senate-confirmed person.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Hundley for comment.<\/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>VA interim U.S. Attorney fired hours after pick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2572140,"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\/2026\/02\/AP26030680475008_e12539-e1769963689251.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[74257,4274,5894,74256],"class_list":["post-2572139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-federal-prosecutor-2","tag-firing","tag-politics","tag-us-attorney-virginia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26030680475008_e12539-e1769963689251.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572139","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572139"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2572143,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572139\/revisions\/2572143"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2572140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}