Now Trump attorney Lindsey Halligan, a member of the former president’s personal legal team, is facing an investigation. A federal district judge declared her appointment as “U.S. Attorney” illegal, but Mullins still claims that title. The court has ordered Halligan to respond in seven days. This response is warranted because of the ongoing professional misconduct alleged for signing indictments without duly delegated authority.
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled last November that Halligan’s appointment as prosecutor was void. He argued that her actions were “unconstitutional usurpations of executive authority.” Additionally, Halligan had zero experience as a prosecutor. Trump appointed him in September 2022 in order to pursue politically motivated prosecutions against leaders such as James Comey and Letitia James. Judge Currie’s ruling resulted in the dismissal of the cases she’d managed thus far.
Judge David Novak also recently questioned Halligan’s designation as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. This resulting order leaves deeply important questions in Halligan’s wake. He ordered her to submit an explanation explaining why she still self-identifies given Judge Currie’s decision. Halligan’s rocky presiding did not stand the test of Senate confirmation, aggravating her position.
Almost to a judge, the judges have criticized Halligan for his behavior in front of the grand jury. As Judge Fitzpatrick put it, she committed “misstatements of law that are foundational.” He also noted her blatant use of potentially privileged communications during the course of this investigation. In her case, there were a set of irregularities unexplained her transcripts of the grand jury proceeding she oversaw.
Consequently, Halligan must submit “a pleading explaining the basis for Ms. Halligan’s identification of herself as the U.S. Attorney, notwithstanding Judge Currie’s contrary ruling.” For her part, Judge Novak has challenged her to justify her identification. She has to articulate why it shouldn’t be treated as a deceptive or misleading claim.
The Trump administration has appealed Judge Currie’s opinion and order, in favor of Halligan’s dismissal of the cases. “While the U.S. has appealed Judge Currie’s opinion and order, no stay has been issued in conjunction with that appeal,” stated a representative from the administration. However, as it currently stands, Judge Currie’s ruling is legally binding and is not a mere dismissal.