Erik Siebert, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, submitted his resignation Friday evening after facing mounting pressure from the Trump administration over his handling of a potential prosecution involving New York Attorney General Letitia James. The resignation comes amid concerns that Siebert could be terminated for failing to pursue mortgage fraud charges against James, a prominent legal adversary of President Trump.
In an email to staff obtained by opitanglobamedia News, Erik Siebert expressed gratitude for his tenure leading the district. “For the last eight months, I have had the pleasure of leading the finest and most exceptional of DOJ employees, who care deeply about our nation and our EDVA community,” he wrote, thanking his team for their dedication to justice.
Presidential Criticism Fuels Erik Siebert Departure
President Trump, currently serving his second term, made clear his dissatisfaction with Erik Siebert’s performance during remarks to reporters Friday. “Yeah, I want him out,” the president stated when asked about concerns regarding Siebert’s potential removal. The president’s criticism centered not only on the James matter but also on Siebert’s support from Democratic senators during the confirmation process.
Trump specifically cited the endorsement Siebert received from Virginia Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner as a red flag. “When I saw that he got two senators, two gentlemen that are bad news, as far as I’m concerned, when I saw that he got approved by these two men, I said, ‘pull him,’ because he can’t be any good,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office.
Erik Siebert had been serving as acting prosecutor since January and was nominated by Trump in May for the permanent position. However, his Senate confirmation remained pending, with the chamber only recently adding his nomination to its voting calendar. The Justice Department has not responded to requests for comment regarding the resignation.
Background of the James Investigation
The controversy surrounding Erik Siebert’s tenure stems from allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has been a persistent legal challenger of Trump’s business practices. In April, a Trump ally referred James for federal criminal prosecution, alleging mortgage fraud related to properties in Virginia and New York.
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, formally alleged in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that James had “in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms.” James dismissed these allegations as “baseless” and characterized them as “nothing more than a revenge tour.”
The tension between Trump and James dates back to 2022, when James successfully sued the former and current president and the Trump Organization. She alleged a years-long scheme to inflate property values across Trump’s international real estate empire. The case resulted in a $355 million judgment against Trump for what the judge deemed “ill-gotten gains,” though the amount later grew to over $527 million with interest before being canceled by New York’s Appellate Division earlier this year. James has appealed that ruling.
Federal prosecutors within the Eastern District of Virginia had expressed concerns about potential retaliation if Siebert failed to pursue the James case, according to multiple sources. An all-staff meeting was held Friday, though no terminations were announced during that gathering. A defense attorney representing James declined to comment on the developments.
The Eastern District of Virginia represents one of the most significant federal prosecutor positions in the United States, overseeing a vast portfolio including terrorism investigations, white-collar crime cases, and matters involving international corruption. The district maintains prosecutorial teams across Alexandria, Richmond, and the Tidewater region of Virginia.
