The White House submitted Lindsey Halligan's 28-page questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee to begin her confirmation as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan, 36, has no prior prosecutorial experience—only 3% of her career involved federal court work and 1% involved criminal matters—and was appointed interim U.S. Attorney after her predecessor was removed. Indictments she brought against James Comey and Letitia James were dismissed after a judge found her appointment unlawful, and Virginia's Democratic senators are expected to block her confirmation under the Senate's blue-slip tradition.
White House Pushes Lindsey Halligan's Nomination For Eastern District Of Virginia U.S. Attorney Amid Senate Resistance
A general view of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago
The White House moved to advance Lindsey Halligan's nomination to be U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by submitting her 28-page questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee, a formal step toward confirmation that nevertheless faces significant political and procedural hurdles.
Background
Halligan, 36, is a former insurance lawyer who briefly served as a personal attorney to former President Donald Trump and worked as a White House aide early in his second term. She has no prior experience as a prosecutor: her questionnaire indicates just 3% of her career involved practicing in federal court and only 1% involved criminal matters.
Legal Controversy
At President Trump's request, Halligan was appointed interim U.S. Attorney in September after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, was removed following his refusal to bring certain politically charged indictments. In the weeks after taking the interim post, Halligan authorized indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James—cases career prosecutors in her office had declined to pursue.
A federal judge dismissed both indictments in November, ruling that Halligan's appointment was unlawful. The Justice Department has not yet appealed that ruling but has continued to list Halligan by name and title on court filings, a practice criticized by several federal judges. A federal magistrate also suggested Halligan may have made significant legal errors in presenting evidence and advising grand jurors; the DOJ has denied those allegations.
Confirmation Roadblocks
Although Republicans control the Senate, Halligan's nomination is complicated by the long-standing "blue slip" tradition, under which senators from a nominee's home state have substantial influence over U.S. Attorney and judicial nominations. Virginia's two Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both of whom supported Halligan's predecessor, are not expected to back her nomination—creating a likely blockade under the blue-slip custom.
President Trump criticized the blue-slip practice on his social platform, writing that it makes it difficult to confirm Republican nominees in states with a single Democratic senator. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated a majority of Senate Republicans oppose eliminating the blue-slip tradition, suggesting the practice may remain an obstacle to Halligan's confirmation.
Outlook
Submitting the questionnaire marks the opening of the Senate committee review, but the path to a full Senate vote remains uncertain. Key questions include whether Senate leaders will push the nomination forward despite the blue-slip barrier, whether the Justice Department will appeal the judge's ruling about Halligan's appointment, and how federal judges' criticisms of the department's handling of related filings will affect the process.
White House comment: "She's the President's nominee. It is our hope that she is confirmed and submitting her questionnaire is part of that process," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Andrea Shalal; edited for clarity and flow.
