Since the start of his second term, President Donald J. Trump has placed individuals who lack professional expertise and experience in important governmental positions.
A recent example is Lindsey Halligan, a Florida insurance lawyer whom Trump appointed as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after Erik Siebert resigned in September of 2025.
Following Trump’s expressed desire, Halligan indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly making false statements and New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of mortgage fraud. Something Siebert had refused to do, saying there was insufficient evidence.
After Halligan was not confirmed by the Senate, federal judges ruled her appointment unlawful and the indictments were dismissed without prejudice for violating federal vacancy laws.
In Halligan’s case, even after a federal judge ordered her to be dismissed from her position, the Department of Justice continues to argue that she is within her right to remain in office.
The 36-year-old lawyer’s connection to Trump was formed years before the latest controversy.
After graduating from University of Miami School of Law, Halligan joined Trump’s legal team to fight the FBI investigation of his Mar-a-Lago property for withholding classified information. In 2022, CBS reported that she claimed to be present during the search.
She returned to the public eye early last year, first serving as White House Senior Associate Staff Secretary and as a special assistant to the President.
In that role, she helped draft an executive order that directed a review of the Smithsonian Institute to ensure it aligned with Trump’s “de-wokeification” agenda.
Her selection as top prosecutor of the Eastern Virginia District was unprecedented and widely viewed as unusual.
Making her head of a district that deals with many high profile cases seemed to be completely self-serving to Trump after her predecessor refused to proceed with charging Comey and James.
Unlike most U.S. Attorneys—who typically have extensive prosecutorial experience in their districts—Halligan had no prior experience in trial procedure or ties to Virginia.
Her predecessor was an experienced lawyer from that district, which helped his situation and led few to question his appointment.
Halligan, on the other hand, was criticized for making multiple rookie errors in trial and for her unprofessional behavior when addressing the press; such as the time when she messaged journalist Anna Bower regarding Letitia James’s case, violating DOJ policy guidelines.
Without the preparation or legitimacy, she was not qualified to hold the position.
This makes her a prime example of the continual dismissal of the rule of law by the current administration, reflected in legal actions—like Trump’s pardon of January 6 insurrectionists—that have been carried out to fulfill promises without considering the repercussions.
