Erik Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned after pressure from the Trump administration to pursue charges against political opponents, including New York AG Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Siebert, a career prosecutor known for independence, faced demands to launch politically motivated investigations, which he refused, leading to his exit. Critics call this a dangerous precedent, with Senate Democrats labeling it an attack on the rule of law and civil liberties groups warning of eroded judicial
independence. Trump’s allies claim inaction was a dereliction of duty, while his administration considers loyalists for Siebert’s replacement. The resignation has sparked calls for congressional hearings into Justice Department politicization, highlighting tensions between executive power and judicial independence. Siebert’s departure underscores a broader conflict over the U.S. justice system’s autonomy in the Trump era.
