Robert McBride, 64, was removed as deputy U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia after refusing to lead a renewed prosecution of James Comey and for privately meeting with federal judges while pursuing the acting U.S. attorney role. Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was ruled unlawful in November, has been ordered to explain why she remains in office. The Justice Department is appealing that ruling while continuing probes into Comey, NY Attorney General Letitia James, and a separate inquiry into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who responded with a public statement.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Ousted After Refusing to Lead Comey Re‑Indictment Amid Power Struggle
Al Drago/Getty Images
The deputy to Lindsey Halligan, the embattled U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was removed from his post after declining to lead a renewed prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey and for privately meeting with federal judges while seeking the top role, multiple sources said.
What Happened
Robert McBride, 64, who joined Halligan’s office late last year after a long career as a federal prosecutor in Kentucky, was dismissed after only a few months on the job, sources told MSN NOW. According to those reports, McBride was asked recently to take charge of the renewed case against Comey but told senior Justice Department officials that he could not effectively lead that prosecution while also running day‑to‑day operations of the U.S. attorney’s office.
James Comey was fired as FBI director by Donald Trump in 2017. / Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Halligan, 36, reportedly learned that McBride had been meeting privately with district judges in the Eastern District of Virginia without informing her. Those contacts were viewed internally as an effort to position himself for appointment as acting U.S. attorney. NBC reported that Justice Department leadership supported McBride’s removal.
Legal And Political Context
This controversy adds to the turmoil surrounding Halligan, a former beauty pageant contestant and ex‑Trump attorney whose appointment to the U.S. attorney post was ruled unlawful by a judge in November. A federal judge recently demanded that Halligan explain why she has remained in the role despite that ruling. The Justice Department has appealed the decision and, according to reporting, concluded that the judge’s order did not explicitly remove her from office.
James’ defense team argued that Halligan violated multiple ethical and secrecy rules in the case. / MARCO BELLO / AFP via Getty Images
The administration has continued investigations tied to two of the president’s political opponents: renewed scrutiny of James Comey and probes involving New York Attorney General Letitia James. Separately, the Justice Department has opened a criminal inquiry related to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell—an escalation that prompted Powell to post a rare video message addressing the action.
“I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one—certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve—is above the law,” Powell said. “But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”
The Justice Department directed inquiries to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which declined to comment. The episode underscores tensions inside the office and broader questions about the independence of politically sensitive prosecutions.
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