The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (ESDVA) resigned on Friday after facing pressure from the Trump administration, the Associated Press reports.
Erik Siebert confirmed his departure in an email to colleagues, reviewed by The Associated Press, in which he praised them as the “finest and most exceptional” of Justice Department employees but made no mention of the political turmoil that preceded his resignation.
A replacement for Siebert has not been chosen as of Saturday morning. His top deputy, Maya Song, is also leaving her position as first assistant U.S. attorney and will work as a line prosecutor, one of the people familiar with the matter told AP.
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he wanted Siebert “out” and multiple people familiar with the matter later told the AP that Siebert had informed his colleagues of his plan to resign from the position.
Siebert was appointed by President Donald Trump as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in January, following the resignation of the late Jessica Aber, who announced her decision to step down as the region's top prosecutor weeks before Trump took office.
Siebert's term was set to expire on May 20, but he was approved to continue in his role following a unanimous decision on behalf of the district's judges.
This attempt to oust Siebert comes amid the Trump administration's push to indict James based on allegations that she committed mortgage fraud in Norfolk.
James was referred for federal criminal prosecution due to claims that she falsified her residence status at a home in Norfolk, according to our affiliate partner CBS New York.
The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) William Pulte accused James of falsifying "bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms," according to a letter written to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and obtained by CBS New York.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the New York attorney general's office told CBS New York that "Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution. She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are."
James filed a civil lawsuit against President Donald Trump in 2022, where she argued Trump and his family artificially inflated their net worth as a means to get better loan rates. The Trump Organization was found liable and was ordered to pay nearly half a billion dollars in fines. The financial penalty was later thrown out, but the finding that Trump committed fraud was upheld.
