The Trump administration fired two federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia who had expressed opposition to criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia Jamesa senior Justice Department source familiar with the matter told CBS News.
Kristin Bird and Elizabeth Yusi were fired Friday from their positions as assistant U.S. attorneys in the Norfolk office of the Eastern District of Virginia, where James’ case is being prosecuted. Yusi, according to her LinkedIn profile, had been an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District since 2010. Bird’s LinkedIn profile indicates that she had been with the office since 2019 and was deputy chief of the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Unit. Her profile now indicates that she works in the private sector.
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These dismissals are part of an ongoing purge in the office, after the ousting of Erik Siebertthe former acting U.S. Attorney who has not brought charges against James or the former James Comey, Director of the FBI.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
There were other firings as well, including that of the office’s top national security official, Michael Ben’Ary. He claims he was fired because far-right social media personality Laura Loomer criticized him on X, but the Justice Department has made no comment.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Maggie Cleary left her post just weeks after taking office. She briefly led the Eastern District of Virginia last month, shortly after Siebert’s term. leaving the office. Cleary had told staff she was replacing Siebert, but days later Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide and Trump’s personal lawyer, was sworn as Acting U.S. Attorney. Less than a week after taking office, Halligan filed criminal charges against Comey, accusing him of lying to Congress.
James is expected to be arraigned Friday, but it is not yet clear who will represent the Justice Department at the hearing due to the firings. Halligan obtained James’ indictment from a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, and never appeared in federal court in Norfolk.
James’ defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, retained a former Norfolk-based assistant U.S. attorney, Andrew Bosse, to serve as local counsel during James’ arraignment and in future proceedings.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
