In a significant development, U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert informed employees at his office in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday that he intends to resign. This decision comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's expressed desire for Siebert to leave the position. Sources indicate that Trump was poised to dismiss Siebert following an investigation that failed to uncover incriminating evidence of mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Letitia James.
According to reports from ABC News, Trump administration officials had pressured Siebert to pursue charges against James, despite a lack of clear evidence indicating any criminal activity on her part. “It looks to me like she is very guilty of something, but I really don't know,” Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. When questioned about Siebert's role, Trump stated that he wanted him out due to the support he received from Virginia's two Democratic senators.
Erik Siebert was nominated for the position of U.S. Attorney in May and has been serving as the interim U.S. attorney since Trump's inauguration. Trump expressed his discontent with Siebert’s nomination, saying, “When I saw that he got approved by those two men, I said, pull it, because he can't be any good.” This sentiment highlights the political tensions surrounding Siebert’s role and the implications of his resignation.
Siebert's departure leaves one of the nation’s pivotal U.S. attorney's offices without a leader. His deputy has already vacated her position and plans to continue working in the office as a line prosecutor. Currently, there is no clarity on who will take over the leadership role or if any attorneys within the office have the authority to proceed with ongoing prosecutorial activities.
The investigation concerning Letitia James commenced in April when Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, submitted a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. The referral alleged that James had falsified records related to her purchase of a home in Virginia in 2023. After a thorough investigation lasting five months and interviews with 15 witnesses, investigators found no substantial evidence to support claims that James intentionally falsified records to secure better loan terms, as first reported by ABC News.
James has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and her attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized the reported firing of Siebert as a blatant attack on the rule of law. “Firing people until he finds someone who will bend the law to carry out his revenge has been the President's pattern — and it's illegal,” Lowell stated. He emphasized that punishing a prosecutor, even a Trump appointee, for fulfilling his duties sends a troubling message: anyone who prioritizes the law over political interests could face similar consequences.
The ousting of Siebert, attributed to his refusal to prosecute one of Trump’s political adversaries, marks a notable escalation in what critics describe as a retribution campaign by the President. Ongoing investigations are also targeting figures like Senator Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Trump has repeatedly accused James, who previously brought a civil fraud case against him, of pursuing him for political gain, labeling her as biased and corrupt.
During his civil fraud trial in 2023, Trump remarked, “James is a horror show who ran on the basis that she was going to get Trump before she even knew anything about me.” He characterized the ongoing scrutiny as election interference, asserting that it stems from a corrupt attorney general.
Erik Siebert, a former police officer with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, graduated from law school in 2009 and has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010. Throughout his career, Siebert has dedicated himself to public safety, tackling issues related to violent crimes and firearms trafficking as a line Assistant U.S. Attorney. He also led the office's organized drug crime task force and supervised its Richmond division from 2019 to 2024.
Siebert began serving as the interim U.S. attorney on January 21, following the resignation of Jessica Aber, who led the office from 2021 to 2025. Both of Virginia’s Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, recommended Siebert to Trump in April, expressing confidence in his capability to manage the responsibilities associated with this crucial role.
