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BumRushDaShow

(165,899 posts) Wed Jan 7, 2026, 06:05 AM Wednesday

Judge orders Lindsey Halligan to explain why she's still serving as U.S. attorney after previous ruling against her

Source: NBC News

Jan. 6, 2026, 10:23 PM EST

A federal judge Tuesday ordered Trump ally Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to call herself the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia even though another judge determined in November that she had been unlawfully appointed to the position.

U.S. District Judge David Novak of Richmond issued a three-page order demanding to know why Halligan is still serving in the post. Halligan, who unsuccessfully prosecuted former FBI Direct James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, is also referred to as U.S. attorney by the Justice Department in official documents. The judge's order is unusual because he issued it on his own, not at the request of defense attorneys. It came in a case involving a carjacking and attempted bank robbery suspect who was indicted last month.

Novak gave Halligan seven days to respond in writing “explaining the basis for ... identification of herself as the United States Attorney, notwithstanding Judge Currie’s contrary ruling. She shall also set forth the reasons why this Court should not strike Ms. Halligan’s identification of herself as United States Attorney from the indictment in this matter.”

The judge’s order goes on to say Halligan "shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement." Novak also alluded to potential disciplinary action and demanded that Halligan sign her response.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/lindsey-halligan-ordered-explain-us-attorney-despite-ruling-against-he-rcna252717

Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.586310/gov.uscourts.vaed.586310.16.0.pdf

12 replies

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Highlight:

Judge orders Lindsey Halligan to explain why she's still serving as U.S. attorney after previous ruling against her (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Wednesday OP

None of her superiors told her to leave bucolic_frolic Wednesday #1

Good orangecrush Wednesday #2

I am guessing that "the fat orange BLOATUS in the White House told me so" Ray Bruns Wednesday #3

"...Halligan "shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement." OldBaldy1701E Wednesday #4

It seems the entire Federal Government is lawless, and we are in a f*cking mess. Joinfortmill Wednesday #5

I guess her December paycheck cleared. bluedigger Wednesday #6

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead BootinUp Wednesday #7

The fascists bogus argument about remaining in place during moniss Wednesday #8

but arguing, and lying on, both sides of an issue maxsolomon Wednesday #11

Of course though I'm just making the point of moniss Wednesday #12

"... why she's still serving as U.S. attorney after previous ruling against her." area51 Wednesday #9

Because Slobfather Donny said she could Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Wednesday #10

bucolic_frolic

(54,076 posts)

1. None of her superiors told her to leave

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 06:12 AM

Wednesday

There's a conspiracy afoot to keep her in that position with or without title and legality.

orangecrush

(28,543 posts)

2. Good

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 07:08 AM

Wednesday

Ray Bruns

(5,985 posts)

3. I am guessing that "the fat orange BLOATUS in the White House told me so"

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 07:33 AM

Wednesday

Will not suffice as an explanation.

OldBaldy1701E

(10,225 posts)

4. "...Halligan "shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement."

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 07:46 AM

Wednesday

Make her do it from a jail cell damn it, because it does 'constitute a false or misleading statement'!

There is no reason to be so afraid of making any of those animals obey the law.

Unless the whole 'laws of the land' thing was a biased sham to begin with, eh?

Joinfortmill

(20,128 posts)

5. It seems the entire Federal Government is lawless, and we are in a f*cking mess.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 08:03 AM

Wednesday

I keep thanking God that the founding fathers kept this in mind when establishing States' Rights, or we'd be in an even worse mess - at least in some States. Sigh.

bluedigger

(17,401 posts)

6. I guess her December paycheck cleared.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 08:22 AM

Wednesday

Thanks, taxpayers!

BootinUp

(50,963 posts)

7. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 08:42 AM

Wednesday

moniss

(8,756 posts)

8. The fascists bogus argument about remaining in place during

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Jan 7, 2026, 10:53 AM

Wednesday

appeals is immediately defeated by the fact of not allowing various federal workers or agencies to continue in place while they appealed the efforts to terminate them. It is a long standing legal principle that you don't get to argue diametrically opposed positions in court. Yes I know normal practice doesn't prevent these fascists from doing so but if the judges are being true then they should immediately throw out the government argument and chastise them for arguing in this fashion.

There is a specific legal term for trying to argue in this way but I forget. Basically you don't get to argue a position that would negate your first argument at the same time you are asking the court and the other side to respond to your first argument. Just imagine if that were the case you could have this never ending daisy chain.