Background on Key Figures
The U.S. Attorney in question is Erik Siebert, who served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was reportedly under pressure to investigate two political rivals of former President Donald Trump.
James Comey, the ex-Director of the FBI, was fired by Trump in 2017 during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Comey has since become a vocal critic of Trump.
Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General, initiated a case against Trump alleging that he and his company had fraudulently inflated their net worth and manipulated property values to secure favorable loans or insurance.
The Controversy Unfolds
According to The New York Times and other U.S. media outlets, Siebert resigned from his position on Friday.
However, President Trump claimed on Saturday morning via his Truth Social platform that he had fired Siebert, stating, “He did not resign; I dismissed him.”
Trump further explained, “After learning that he had received unusually strong support from two terrible and corrupt Democratic Senators from Virginia, I revoked his appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.”
Earlier that day, during an Oval Office conversation with journalists, Trump had expressed his desire for Siebert’s removal by saying, “I want him out.”
Siebert’s Stance on Investigations
Recently, Siebert had informed the Department of Justice that he opposed charging Comey with perjury due to allegations of lying to Congress.
Siebert also determined that there were insufficient grounds to charge Letitia James with mortgage fraud, according to sources close to the case speaking to The Washington Post.
Impact and Consequences
Comey, who was abruptly dismissed in 2017 while investigating potential Russian interference in the 2016 election, has since become a fierce critic of Trump.
Letitia James, on the other hand, initiated a case against Trump for allegedly fraudulently inflating his net worth and manipulating property values to secure favorable loans or insurance.
A judge ruled against Trump in 2024, imposing a $464 million fine. However, an appeals court overturned the penalty as excessive in August 2023 while upholding the initial finding of fraud.
James, along with several other Democratic officials, has been accused by a Trump-aligned federal official of falsifying mortgage documents.
When questioned about this case on Friday, Trump stated, “I think she is really guilty of something, but I honestly don’t know.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Erik Siebert? Erik Siebert was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia until his dismissal by President Trump.
- Why was Siebert dismissed? Siebert reportedly faced pressure to investigate Trump’s political rivals, James Comey and Letitia James. He opposed charging Comey with perjury and found insufficient evidence to charge James with mortgage fraud.
- Who are James Comey and Letitia James?
- James Comey is the former Director of the FBI, who was fired by Trump in 2017 during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
- Letitia James is the New York State Attorney General who initiated a case against Trump for allegedly fraudulently inflating his net worth and manipulating property values.
- What was the outcome of Letitia James’s case against Trump? A judge ruled against Trump in 2024, imposing a $464 million fine. However, an appeals court overturned the penalty as excessive in August 2023 while upholding the initial finding of fraud.
