Deputy AG Fires Judge-Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney

What happened in Virginia

Federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia named a veteran litigator to serve as interim U.S. attorney after a court ruling cast doubt on the previous appointment. Within hours the Justice Department through Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche moved to remove that judge-appointed interim. The episode is the latest turn in a dispute over who fills vacant U.S. attorney posts when local and federal actors disagree.

The legal tug of war

There is a legal split here that is more paperwork than drama. The Justice Department cites the Constitution and presidential appointment power. Some judges rely on statutes that let courts appoint temporary prosecutors when offices are empty. Both sides point to law and precedent. The practical result is uncertainty about who has authority to handle important federal prosecutions while the politics get sorted.

Blanche’s move and public messages

Deputy AG Blanche did not wait for a slow motion legal fight. He publicly announced the removal and repeated the message that U.S. attorneys come from the president. He has used the department platform and social media to make the point that judges should not be selecting permanent prosecutors. The exchange included a prior, similar removal in New York this month, signaling this is now department policy rather than a one-off.

Why people should pay attention

This is about more than personnel. Who controls a U.S. attorney slot matters for case timing, charging decisions, and local trust in federal law enforcement. When rules are unclear federal prosecutions can stall and courts and the Justice Department can trade courtroom moves instead of filing cases. Call it bureaucratic musical chairs with real consequences for how justice is carried out.

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