A swift and decisive action has shaken the foundations of the US Attorney’s office in Virginia. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wasted no time in dismissing James Hundley, a seasoned litigator with over three decades of experience, immediately after his appointment as Interim US Attorney.
Hundley’s appointment itself was a response to a complex legal challenge. Federal judges in Virginia had posted the position following the departure of Lindsey Halligan, who previously found her authority questioned by Judge Cameron McGowan Currie.
The situation began to unravel in November when Judge Currie, appointed by President Clinton, dismissed criminal cases involving prominent figures James Comey and Letitia James. Simultaneously, the judge invalidated Halligan’s initial appointment as US Attorney, throwing the office into uncertainty.
A previous attempt to solidify Halligan’s position involved Pam Bondi, who retroactively designated her as a “special attorney.” This move granted Halligan the authority to participate in legal proceedings, but Judge Currie maintained she could not serve as the Interim US Attorney.
Halligan ultimately stepped down, leading to the judicial search that culminated in Hundley’s brief tenure. Blanche’s immediate dismissal of Hundley underscores a fundamental disagreement over the appointment process.
Blanche forcefully asserted that the power to appoint US Attorneys rests solely with the President, citing Article II of the Constitution. His public declaration, delivered via a direct message, left no room for ambiguity: “EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!”
This isn’t an isolated incident. Just weeks prior, on February 12th, Blanche took similar action in New York, firing another US Attorney – Donald Kinsella – appointed by judges. Again, the justification centered on the constitutional authority of the President to fill these critical roles.
The pattern emerging reveals a clear stance by the Deputy Attorney General: a firm commitment to upholding what he believes is the correct constitutional process for selecting US Attorneys, even if it means directly challenging judicial appointments.
