Trump calls for firing U.S. attorney probing Letitia James

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, the federal prosecutor weighing mortgage-fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, should be fired, telling reporters in the Oval Office, 'I want him out.'

Trump said his stance shifted after learning that Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner had expressed support for Siebert’s nomination to the Eastern District of Virginia. Siebert was nominated in May but has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. 'Pull him,' Trump added, saying that he changed his mind after hearing the senators' backing and arguing that the nominee could not be trusted to perform the job well.

The discussions surrounding Siebert come amid a broader push by allies of the administration to pursue charges against James, who is under investigation in mortgage-related matters tied to properties in Virginia and New York. Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin is scheduled to meet with Siebert on Monday to discuss the case, according to people familiar with the matter.

Siebert’s nomination to the Eastern District of Virginia would elevate him to the region that includes the federal court in Alexandria, if confirmed. Senate confirmation has stalled amid broader political resistance to nominees tied to the administration, though Kaine and Warner had publicly expressed support for his nomination earlier this year.

Trump's remarks underscore the political frictions surrounding ongoing federal inquiries and the management of high-profile investigations into Democratic figures. Critics warn that overt calls to remove federal prosecutors could undermine independent processes, while supporters say the President is simply exercising prerogative over nominees and prosecutors who oversee cases with potential political impact.

The episode also highlights the delicate timing of personnel decisions in the judiciary, as Siebert has not yet been confirmed and the Department of Justice has its own processes for handling mortgage-fraud inquiries. The intersection of a presidential statement, Senate confirmation dynamics, and active investigations can complicate the path of a nominee and the administration's stated goals.