Lindsey Halligan, 36, was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia on Monday, taking over one of the most significant prosecutorial offices in the country despite having no experience as a prosecutor at any level. The appointment comes after President Donald Trump forced out her predecessor, Erik Siebert, for refusing to pursue charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Halligan’s rapid ascension from Florida insurance lawyer to federal prosecutor represents a stark departure from traditional Justice Department hiring practices. Court records show she has participated in only three federal cases throughout her career, all while serving as one of Trump’s personal attorneys. By contrast, Siebert, whom she replaced, was listed as an attorney on 675 federal cases during his extensive prosecutorial career.
From beauty pageants to insurance law
Before joining Trump’s legal orbit, Halligan followed a conventional legal career path. She went to Holy Family High School in Colorado before earning a degree in political science and broadcast journalism from Regis University in Denver—the same school Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s wife, attended. During Halligan’s college years, she competed in the Miss Colorado USA pageant twice, reaching the semifinals in 2009 and placing third runner-up in 2010.
