Overview

• Maggie Cleary has been removed from the Eastern District of Virginia office, and it remains unclear whether she still works for the Justice Department in another role.
• Lindsey Halligan, a Trump appointee with no federal criminal trial experience, took over the office in September after Erik Siebert resigned under pressure.
• Halligan has taken the unusual step of personally handling courtroom proceedings tied to the recent indictments of James Comey and Letitia James.
• Cleary had aligned with career prosecutors who opposed charging Comey and was observed seated away from the government table when Halligan presented the indictment.
• The removal follows firings of Michael Ben’Ary and Maya Song and the resignation of Troy Edwards Jr., with Ben’Ary leaving a note alleging leadership prioritizes punishing the president’s perceived enemies over national security.