Trump taps Lindsey Halligan as Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney amid Comey probe

WASHINGTON — Lindsey Halligan, 36, a former Miss Colorado USA contestant who has become a rising figure in Donald Trump’s legal circle, was sworn in Monday as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In that role, she is expected to oversee criminal probes involving former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to people familiar with the matter. Halligan’s appointment follows the removal of Erik Siebert, the previous U.S. attorney, last week, and comes as federal prosecutors weigh whether Comey lied to Congress during his September 2020 testimony about the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation tied to Trump’s 2016 campaign.

The potential Comey case hinges on a five-year statute of limitations that would expire early next week, according to people familiar with the matter, and prosecutors are expected to seek an indictment before that deadline. The appointment places Halligan at the center of a pair of politically charged probes that have drawn intense scrutiny from Trump and his allies, as well as from Comey and other targets of the administration.

Halligan’s background blends private practice, public service and a long arc inside the Trump orbit. A Colorado native who grew up in a Catholic school environment, she excelled in basketball and softball before pursuing politics and broadcast journalism at Regis University in Denver, a Jesuit college that later produced other public figures connected to conservative causes. She earned a law degree from the University of Miami and spent time in Miami’s public defender's office before working in private practice focusing on insurance litigation. Her path into the Trump fold accelerated after a late 2021 court appearance in Florida, when she joined the president’s legal team several months later.

Her role in the Mar-a-Lago era helped raise her profile even further. In August 2022, during the FBI search of Trump’s Florida estate, Halligan was among the first members of the president’s legal team on the scene and publicly described the agents’ entry into Trump’s bedroom and office. She later spoke publicly about the search on television, describing what she and the team observed and how the process was handled. Those moments, combined with subsequent appearances in court proceedings tied to classified documents, helped cement her standing with Trump.

By 2024 Halligan was seated close to Trump at the Republican National Convention, underscoring her growing prominence within the administration. After the election, she moved from Florida to Washington to serve as a special assistant and senior associate staff secretary, part of a broader effort to embed trusted legal aides inside the White House staff.

In March, Halligan played a role in the executive order aimed at reassessing how American history is presented in public institutions. The order, which carried three titles for Halligan, named her as assistant to the president for domestic policy, the special assistant to the president, and a senior associate staff secretary. The document reflected a broader push to recalibrate public display of certain historical narratives and to emphasize a particular interpretive approach favored within the White House.

The timing of Halligan’s appointment follows the ouster of Erik Siebert, who had led the Eastern District of Virginia’s office and who privately conveyed to Justice Department officials that he did not feel he had a strong case against Comey. Trump publicly pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi to install Halligan, arguing that a hard-nosed prosecutor was needed to press the administration’s priorities in Virginia. In a Truth Social post around the time of Siebert’s departure, Trump lauded Halligan as a capable attorney and urged Bondi to appoint her to move things forward, suggesting that the office could pursue aggressive prosecutions against political adversaries.

Halligan was sworn in on Monday, a procedural step that starts a 120-day clock on her tenure unless Congress or the White House extends it or makes the appointment permanent. Trump called her a tough, smart, and loyal attorney who would be up to the task of navigating high-stakes investigations. While the White House characterized Halligan’s appointment as a qualified choice with a proven track record, several former federal prosecutors cautioned about the political pressures that can accompany such a role.

Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at George Washington University, called Halligan’s appointment a dangerous development for a case that could become highly politicized. He said the job would place her under intense scrutiny as she weighs whether charges are merited against figures linked to both the former president and his allies. Another former federal prosecutor, Jason Manning, noted that Halligan’s past experience as a prosecutor was limited relative to the breadth of responsibilities she now faces, and he warned that lack of prosecutorial breadth could complicate case evaluation under political pressure.

The White House pushed back on concerns about inexperience, saying Halligan is exceptionally qualified with a history of success in complex matters and that she would bring dedication and integrity to the office.

As Halligan assumes the helm in the Eastern District of Virginia, the office is expected to manage sensitive investigations that sit at the intersection of national security, domestic politics and the legal battles surrounding the Trump presidency. The Comey matter, if pursued, would add a new chapter to a longstanding feud between Trump and his former FBI director, while the Letitia James inquiry speaks to broader tensions between the federal justice system and state-level authorities in high-profile prosecutions. In a political climate where prosecutions have become a prominent lever for opponents and supporters alike, Halligan’s work could become a focal point in debates over the use of federal power in service of partisan objectives, even as prosecutors emphasize the need for impartial and evidence-based decisions.