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White House Advances Halligan Nomination After Judge Tossed Comey, James Cases

The nomination faces the Senate blue‑slip barrier due to withheld approvals from Virginia’s senators.

Overview

  • Halligan submitted a 28‑page questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the first movement on her nomination since it was sent to the Senate on Sept. 30.
  • Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the push, saying Halligan remains the president’s choice to lead the Eastern District of Virginia.
  • Senior U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the Comey and Letitia James indictments, ruling Halligan’s appointment was defective and actions flowing from it must be set aside.
  • The Judiciary Committee’s Republican majority says nominees without home‑state blue slips lack the votes to advance, and Chair Chuck Grassley defends the practice even as President Trump urges its termination.
  • Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and Trump attorney with no prosecutorial experience, was installed after Erik Siebert’s departure and quickly obtained the now‑dismissed indictments; DOJ has not filed an appeal and has drawn judicial rebukes for continuing to list her as U.S. attorney in court filings.