Lindsey Halligan, Trump's Former Aide, Investigated for Falsely Holding US Attorney Title

Former Justice Department prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, best known for indicting two of President Donald Trump's political opponents, is being investigated by Florida authorities. The state's bar association confirmed that Halligan, 36, was under investigation in a letter sent to nonprofit organization Campaign for Accountability. The group had filed complaints alleging that Halligan had unlawfully claimed to be a US attorney and kept signing court orders with that title even after a judge ruled her appointment invalid.

Halligan had been selected by Trump to serve as interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia despite having no prior experience as a federal prosecutor. The former beauty queen previously worked as a White House aide and, before that, served as one of Trump's lawyers. She led cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, but both were dismissed after a federal judge determined her appointment was unlawful.

Halligan's conduct 'violated the professional rules of conduct both of Virginia and Florida,' Michelle Kuppersmith, Campaign for Accountability's executive director, told CBS News. 'We want to encourage state bars to continue doing their duty where they see fit,' Kuppersmith said.

Halligan, a former Department of Justice prosecutor as the interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is under investigation by the Florida Bar Association. Halligan, 36, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump at the US Open in September.

Halligan left her role in January after US District Judge David Novak barred her from continuing to present herself as interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Novak warned he would initiate disciplinary proceedings if she kept identifying herself as a US attorney in court filings. 'No matter all of her machinations, Ms. Halligan has no legal basis to represent to this Court that she holds the position,' Novak wrote.

In a scathing filing, he added that 'this charade of Ms. Halligan masquerading as the United States Attorney for this District in direct defiance of binding court orders must come to an end.' The letter sent by Florida's bar association noted that it had been following the 'developments' surrounding Halligan. 'We already have an investigation pending,' it read. Halligan was copied on the letter, which indicated that she was aware of the bar association's investigation.

Halligan stepped down from her role in January after US District Judge David Novak ordered her to stop 'masquerading' as the top federal prosecutor for eastern Virginia. The investigation into Halligan could ultimately result in the former Trump administration official being disbarred, though the process could take years. Investigated cases are referred to a grievance committee, which is an organization made up of community volunteers. At least one–third of its members are non–lawyers, according to the Florida Bar Association.

The panel functions similarly to a grand jury, but within the legal profession. It determines whether there is probable cause that an attorney – such as Halligan, in this case – violated professional rules. A recommendation is then sent to Florida courts for a final determination. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice posted a notice in the Federal Register seeking greater authority to review state bar investigations. The proposal would allow the department to review complaints and allegations filed against DOJ attorneys.

The investigation that could potentially result in Halligan being disbarred will be extensive and could take years to be resolved. Trump nominated Halligan to serve as the interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. She had no experience as a federal prosecutor. The full complaint against Halligan by the Campaign for Accountability nonprofit claimed that her prosecution of Comey and James 'appear[ed] to represent a serious breach of her ethical obligations.' It asked for Halligan to be stopped from 'abusing her position and her Florida bar license for improper purposes.'

Kuppersmith, the nonprofit's executive director, told The Hill that she hopes the Florida bar 'takes its duties seriously and carries out a thorough investigation.' When Halligan stepped down from her role in January, she said that judges 'repeatedly treated my appointment as disqualifying.' 'The court's remedy did not match its rhetoric,' she added then. She left the Department of Justice shortly after leaving her supposed role as interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The DOJ is still appealing the ruling that deemed Halligan's appointment unlawful and tossed out Comey and James' attempted prosecutions. The Daily Mail has reached out to Halligan, the Florida Bar and the Department of Justice for comment.