A leadership shake-up within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia reached a new boiling point on Monday with the firing of Robert McBride, the office’s No. 2 official.
McBride’s ouster marks the latest change in the district since President Donald Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, his former personal defense attorney, to lead it in September.
McBride reportedly got the boot by Halligan after refusing to take the lead in the Trump administration’s efforts to reindict former FBI Director James Comey.
The abrupt exit, supported by officials with the Justice Department, leaves the office and Halligan without a right-hand man to manage the office and oversee investigations.
The Eastern District of Virginia has not issued a statement regarding the personnel change or the status of the Comey investigation.
McBride also reportedly met with federal judges without permission in an effort to snag Halligan’s position as U.S. attorney by court order, according to NBC.
McBride’s firing comes as Halligan’s authority remains under heavy judicial fire.
In November, a federal judge ruled that Halligan’s appointment was unlawful, which effectively invalidated the indictments she secured against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
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Since then, judges have continued to tell Halligan that she no longer has the authority to lead the office.
Due to legal disputes over which prosecutor holds leadership over the district, the DOJ recently included the names of Halligan, McBride, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on court documents.