A wave of major changes is sweeping through one of the country’s most influential U.S. Attorney’s offices after a Trump ally took control — and she’s wasting no time in making her presence felt.
Lindsey Halligan, a longtime Trump loyalist, has reportedly begun reshaping the Eastern District of Virginia’s federal prosecutor team, and her first move was removing a senior Justice Department figure who once briefly led the office.
Halligan Moves Quickly to Assert Control
Halligan was officially appointed to the powerful post on September 20, handpicked by Donald Trump himself.
Since taking the reins, she’s been eager to establish her authority — a mission that has already led to several high-profile dismissals and resignations.
Her predecessor, Erik Siebert, was also a Trump appointee but stepped down under pressure from the former president after refusing to indict ex-FBI Director James Comey.
Following Siebert’s exit, career prosecutor Maggie Cleary was temporarily placed in charge. However, Cleary didn’t stay long in that role once Halligan arrived.
Internal Tensions Boil Over
Cleary, who had been a respected figure among her peers, reportedly clashed with Halligan over her decision to move forward with the Comey case.
During one grand jury session, Cleary’s quiet protest became clear — she sat in the back of the courtroom instead of joining her team at the government’s table, a visual cue of the growing divide within the office.
According to CNN, Cleary has now been removed entirely from her position in Virginia.
It remains uncertain whether she was reassigned elsewhere in the Justice Department or let go completely, but her absence marks another shake-up in an already turbulent environment.
Longtime Prosecutors Also Shown the Door
Cleary wasn’t the only one to go. Two seasoned prosecutors — Michael Ben’Ary and Maya Song — were dismissed shortly after Halligan charged Comey.
Their exits were followed by a dramatic message from Ben’Ary, who left a note taped to his office door accusing Justice Department leaders of prioritizing “punishing the president’s perceived enemies” over protecting national security.
Adding to the departures, Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards Jr., also resigned.
Comey himself faces allegations of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation back in 2020, charges he firmly denies.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump,” Comey said after his indictment.
A Loyalist’s Vision for the Future
Sources suggest Halligan is not stopping there. She reportedly plans to move out any prosecutors unwilling to back her strategy of pursuing politically charged cases — a clear sign she intends to build a team entirely loyal to her leadership and, by extension, Trump’s agenda.
Halligan is also involved in another major case — this time against former New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is accused of mortgage fraud over alleged discrepancies in property paperwork.
James’ legal team has dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated retaliation.
From Trump’s Lawyer to Federal Power Player
Before taking on her current role, Halligan was better known as one of Donald Trump’s personal attorneys.
She represented him during the early stages of the FBI’s probe into classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Her appointment as U.S. Attorney marks a significant leap — especially given her lack of prior criminal trial experience.
Trump announced her nomination on social media with glowing praise, saying Halligan “will be fair, smart, and will provide desperately needed justice for all.”
For Maggie Cleary, however, the reshuffle represents the end of an era.
A Republican stalwart who had served under multiple administrations, she was appointed to a senior deputy role under Halligan — but her tenure was short-lived once tensions came to light.
What Comes Next for the Virginia Office?
With Cleary out and multiple senior prosecutors gone, Halligan is reshaping one of America’s most powerful legal institutions in real time.
Her moves have sparked sharp criticism and concerns about political interference in the Justice Department — but for Trump’s inner circle, it signals another loyalist taking control in a key federal position.
As Halligan continues to expand her influence, all eyes are on how far she’s willing to go — and what her leadership means for the future of federal prosecutions tied to Trump-era controversies.