The Associated Press | ALXnow

Justice Department fires key prosecutor in Eastern District of Virginia office already beset by turmoil, AP sources say

Published October 2, 2025 at 2:33PM

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department fired a top national security prosecutor amid criticism from a right-wing commentator over his work during the Biden administration, further roiling the prominent U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia after the ousting of other senior attorneys in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty

By The Associated Press

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:01AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 5:15AM

The sunset is seen from the Capitol before Republican and Democratic news conferences about the government shutdown, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

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Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted in Alexandria federal court

By The Associated Press

Published September 25, 2025 at 10:42PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 6:33AM

FILE - Former FBI director James Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, June 8, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

By ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies.

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Trump nominates White House aide to lead Alexandria federal prosecutor’s office

By Ryan Belmore and The Associated Press

Published September 21, 2025 at 7:30AM

FILE - Lindsey Halligan, special assistant to the president, speaks with a reporter outside of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he would nominate senior White House aide Lindsey Halligan to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, just one day after the Alexandria-based office was thrown into turmoil by the resignation of U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert.

The nomination drew sharp criticism from Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents Northern Virginia including Alexandria, where the federal prosecutor’s office is headquartered. “Donald Trump hates the rule of law and is making all of us less safe by firing seasoned professionals, to replace them with goons and yes men who will bend the law to his whim,” Beyer said in a statement Saturday. “This is corrupt as hell.”

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Alexandria-based US attorney resigns under pressure amid James investigation

By Ryan Belmore and The Associated Press

Published September 19, 2025 at 5:07PM | Updated September 19, 2025 at 8:28PM

FILE - Erik Siebert, interim U.S. Attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi, right, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, left, listen during a news conference at the Manassas FBI Field Office, March 27, 2025, in Manassas, Va. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney who led the Eastern District of Virginia federal prosecutor’s office from its Alexandria headquarters, resigned Friday under pressure from the Trump administration amid its push to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Siebert confirmed his departure in an email to colleagues, reviewed by The Associated Press, in which he praised them as the “finest and most exceptional” of Justice Department employees but made no mention of the political turmoil that preceded his resignation.

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Beyer, Kaine condemn Trump’s DC police takeover

By Ryan Belmore and The Associated Press

Published August 11, 2025 at 5:45PM

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Alexandria’s congressional delegation joined a chorus of regional lawmakers Monday condemning President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize Washington D.C.’s police department and deploy National Guard troops, with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine calling the move a “waste of taxpayer dollars” designed to distract from other issues.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who represents Alexandria, joined eight other members of the National Capital Region delegation in a statement released hours after Trump’s announcement that he would temporarily take control of the Metropolitan Police Department through Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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Virginia agrees not to fully enforce state law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors

By The Associated Press

Published July 3, 2025 at 9:35AM

Pride flag (photo via Sophie emeny/Unsplash)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia officials have agreed not to fully enforce a 2020 law banning conversion therapy for minors as part of an agreement with a faith-based conservative group that sued over the law, authorities said earlier this week.

The Virginia Department of Health Professions, represented by the state’s office of the attorney general, entered into a consent decree with the Founding Freedoms Law Center last month, saying officials will not discipline counselors who engage in talk conversion therapy.

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Olympic 100 champion Noah Lyles calls off weekend race with Miami’s Tyreek Hill for personal reasons

By The Associated Press

Published June 17, 2025 at 6:30PM | Updated June 17, 2025 at 6:56PM

FILE - Noah Lyles, of the United States, slows down after winning a men's 100-meters heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

A race between Noah Lyles, the Olympic 100-meter champion and Alexandria, Virginia native, and Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill that was never formally announced but supposedly taking place this weekend was called off by Lyles for “personal reasons.”

Lyles announced the cancellation Tuesday at Stagwell’s Sport Beach event in Cannes, France. His news was captured in a video posted by the New York Post on Instagram.

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Virginia House passes resolutions protecting abortion, voting rights, marriage equality

By The Associated Press

Published January 15, 2025 at 2:45PM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia House of Delegates passed resolutions on Tuesday enshrining rights to abortion, voting and marriage equality in a critical step for Democrats hoping to amend the state’s constitution next year.