Judges in Virginia name new U.S. attorney, then Justice Dept. fires him
Source: Washington Post
February 20, 2026 at 7:18 p.m. EST
The federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously appointed longtime litigator James W. Hundley to serve as interim U.S. attorney on Friday, and the Justice Department almost immediately fired him, continuing a clash over control of one of the country’s highest-profile prosecutor’s offices, which is particularly known for handling significant national security cases.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge M. Hannah Lauck issued an order announcing Hundley’s appointment Friday evening.
Not long after, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted a statement on X. “Here we go again,” Blanche wrote. “EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!”
Hundley would have succeeded Lindsey Halligan, a Trump administration lawyer who was named to lead the office last year with a mission to seek criminal charges against President Donald Trump’s perceived political adversaries. She left the post on Jan. 20, weeks after a federal judge ruled that her appointment had been improper. Before her departure, two federal judges issued orders threatening to impose sanctions on government lawyers who cited her as U.S. attorney in court filings.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/20/virginia-us-attorney-named/
No paywall (gift)
Just breaking. Blanche needs to be sanctioned and disbarred. Like YEARS AGO.
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