Overview

• Todd Gilbert resigned in August after refusing orders to remove his deputy, Zachary Lee, from a probe tied to the FBI’s handling of Russia‑investigation records.
• After his July appointment, Gilbert was directed to open a grand jury inquiry into possible mishandling of documents from the decade‑old Russia case.
• Career prosecutors told leadership the evidence did not support charges, and senior officials blamed Lee for influencing Gilbert’s assessment.
• Gilbert was instructed to replace Lee with Robert Tracci, then was threatened with termination when he declined to further sideline Lee, and he stepped down as Tracci took over.
• The removal aligns with reported changes in Virginia’s Eastern District, where Erik Siebert was ousted and Lindsey Halligan was installed following pressure to pursue a case against New York Attorney General Letitia James.