Trump's Ex-Lawyer Forced Out as Top Virginia Prosecutor

A former personal attorney for Donald Trump has been removed from her role as the top federal prosecutor in Virginia. Lindsey Halligan left the position after a federal judge ordered her exit. The judge wrote that Halligan was "masquerading" as the U.S. Attorney and called her appointment a "charade." The order stated this "must come to an end." Halligan served as Trump's personal lawyer before he became president. She was named to the Virginia prosecutor role in 2021. The position is officially appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Halligan had been serving without that formal process. Her departure creates an immediate vacancy in a key federal office. It handles major cases in the Eastern District of Virginia, often called the "Rocket Docket" for its fast pace.