Virginia

Federal judge says Trump-appointed federal prosecutor in Virginia is ‘masquerading’ in the job

Published

2 months ago

January 20, 2026

Federal judge says Trump-appointed federal prosecutor in Virginia is ‘masquerading’ in the job

WASHINGTON — Two judges in Virginia are rejecting Trump administration arguments that a White House loyalist can continue serving as a top federal prosecutor in the state, with one on Tuesday soliciting applications for a replacement and the other prohibiting Lindsey Halligan from continuing to represent herself in his court as a United States attorney.

The dual orders from separate judges marked a dramatic new front in an ongoing clash between the Trump administration and the federal court over the legitimacy of Halligan’s appointment. A White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, Halligan was picked for the role by President Donald Trump in September only to have a judge two months later rule that the appointment was illegal.

The Trump administration has kept Halligan in place despite that ruling, but on Tuesday, two judges made clear that they believed it was time for her tenure to end. Similar disputes have occurred in other districts across the country, where judges have rejected other Trump administration efforts to install acting prosecutors outside conventional protocol.

In one order, M. Hannah Lauck, the chief judge of the Eastern District of Virginia and a nominee of President Barack Obama, directed a clerk to publish a vacancy announcement on the court’s website and with the news media and said she was “soliciting expressions of interest in serving in that position.” The judge noted that the 120-day appointment given to Halligan, who has since been nominated by Trump but not confirmed by the Senate, expires on Tuesday.

In a separate order, U.S. District Judge David Novak said he was striking the words “United States Attorney” from the signature block of an indictment in a case that was before him, and barred her from continuing to represent herself with that title. He said he would initiate disciplinary proceedings against Halligan if she violated his order and persisted in identifying herself in court filings as a U.S. attorney, and said other signatories could be subject to discipline as well.

“No matter all of her machinations, Ms. Halligan has no legal basis to represent to this Court that she holds the position. And any such representation going forward can only be described as a false statement made in direct defiance of valid court orders,” Novak wrote. “In short, 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 order from Novak, who was appointed to the bench by Trump during the Republican president’s first term in office, followed a defiant filing from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in which they stood behind Halligan’s authority and accused the judge of abusing his power by demanding that Halligan publicly explain why she continues to identify herself as a U.S. attorney.

“Ms. Halligan’s response, in which she was joined by both the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, contains a level of vitriol more appropriate for a cable news talk show and falls far beneath the level of advocacy expected from litigants in this Court, particularly the Department of Justice,” Novak wrote.

“The Court will not engage in a similar tit-for-tat and will instead analyze the few points that Ms. Halligan offers to justify her continued identification of her position as United States Attorney before the Court,” he added.

Halligan was named to the job on an acting basis in September after the Trump administration effectively forced out veteran prosecutor Erik Siebert amid pressure to bring charges against two of Trump’s political foes, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General.

Halligan secured the indictment but the win was short-lived. In November, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled that Halligan was illegally appointed as an acting U.S. attorney.

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Virginia

Goochland residents sue county over Technology Overlay District approval

Published

3 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Goochland residents sue county over Technology Overlay District approval

GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Four Goochland residents are taking the county’s board of supervisors and planning commission to court, alleging officials failed to lawfully and clearly explain their approved Technology Overlay District (TOD).

In November, the board adjusted zoning rules and approved the TOD and a Technology Zone (TZ) to incentivize data centers and high-tech businesses to be in eastern Goochland.

That approval came after months of community meetings and public comment periods where neighbors shared concerns about the environmental impacts, noise emissions and the county’s rural character.

Plaintiff Cynthia Haas and informal legal advisor John Gessner both live near, but outside, the zone and believe their concerns could lead to unknown impacts of data center development and operations.

“Water, power: nobody knows. It borders on reckless to approve these — or make it easier for them to be built — without knowing exactly what the impacts are,” said Gessner, who also built a career as a zoning lawyer.

“[Data center development] is coming one way or the other,” Haas said. “You’re throwing all this stuff into the TOD without considering the consequences.”

After public hearings, the county made some changes to the project, such as increasing buffers around homes and reforming noise limits.

“It is true there were all sorts of public meetings, but there was never an opportunity to find out really what they were thinking and the reasoning for it,” Gessner said.

The lawsuit claimed Goochland did not properly advertise the project, violated zoning regulations and made last-minute changes to the district without hearing from residents.

Around 300 people have donated to support Haas’s and the plaintiff’s filing, in hopes of reversing the TOD.

A Goochland County spokesperson says its leadership stands by its approval process. In February, its board of supervisors approved a $250,000 fund for the county’s defense. If the county’s defense is less than $250,000, the spokesperson said the additional funds will be returned to the county’s unassigned general fund.

Another $100,000 is being used for the county’s defense, part of a public officials’ liability policy through the Virginia Association of Counties Self-Insurance Risk Pool.

County administration told 8News last year that revenues from businesses in the district would help lower residents’ taxes and help pay for a water and sewer service debt.

The county spokesperson said in part, “Adoption of the TOD and TZ establishes standards and expectations. It does not approve any specific project. Any proposed technology development must still comply with all applicable requirements…”

“We’re going to continue to fight this. We’re not going to let a group of men pass illegal legislation and get away with it,” Haas said. “That’s not the way this is going to working in Goochland anymore.”

A hearing is set for Tuesday, May 26, in the Goochland Circuit Court, where the court will decide which of the 8,500 documents filed will be submitted for the record.

Goochland has asked the court to throw the suit out, but a hearing for that has not been scheduled.

Learn more about the TOD and Goochland County’s full statement on the pending litigation here.

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Virginia

West Virginia State Police searching for missing woman last seen in Kingwood

Published

15 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia State Police searching for missing woman last seen in Kingwood

Shania Moser (WVSP Image)

KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WBOY) — The West Virginia State Police are asking communities to keep an eye out for a missing woman last seen in Preston County.

According to a Facebook post by the WVSP, 29-year-old Shania Moser was last seen Thursday, March 26, at around 11 a.m. in the Albright Avenue area of Kingwood.

Moser is described in the post as having blonde hair and brown eyes, being 5′ 2″ tall, and was last seen wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and white Nike shoes.

At the time she was last seen she was driving a 2015 blue Ford Escape with a West Virginia registration reading 1G5016.

Those who have any information on the whereabouts of Moser are urged to call the WVSP at 304-329-1101.

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Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Lotto America on March 28, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 28.

Winning Powerball numbers from March 28 drawing

11-42-43-59-61, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 28 drawing

15-29-30-32-35, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 28 drawing

0-7-1

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 28 drawing

2-7-3-5

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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