Lindsey Halligan Faces Ethics Probe In Florida

The Florida Bar has launched an ethics probe into Lindsey Halligan, a former personal attorney for President Donald Trump whom he attempted to install as a powerful federal prosecutor in a bid to pursue criminal charges against his perceived political enemies.

A liberal legal advocacy group, Campaign for Accountability, disclosed Thursday that it received a letter from the Florida Bar stating that it has an open investigation into Halligan. The brief letter, first reported by The New York Times, did not provide details about the inquiry.

Halligan did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the investigation or the bar letter, which was dated Feb. 4 and indicates she was also sent a copy.

A judge ruled in November that Halligan’s appointment as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was illegal because federal law allows the attorney general to fill such a vacancy on a temporary basis for no more than 120 days and that period had expired before Halligan was appointed.

U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie also threw out two high-profile criminal indictments Halligan obtained during her tenure: a case charging former FBI Director James Comey with obstruction of Congress and a case charging New York Attorney General Letitia James with mortgage fraud.

Despite that ruling, Halligan continued to claim the U.S. attorney post and prosecutors in that office continued to file pleadings under her name and that title. That troubled several judges in the district.

Trump appointee David Novak said Halligan’s ongoing claim to the post could constitute “a false or misleading statement,” in violation of bar rules. Accusing her of engaging in a “charade” and of "masquerading" in a position she had been deemed not to hold, Novak barred Halligan from using that title in any court filings.

It’s unclear precisely what issues the Florida Bar is investigating. A complaint sent to the bar last month by Campaign for Accountability noted Novak’s complaints and accused Halligan of “continuing to engage in conduct barred by federal law and the constitution.” The complaint also noted concerns expressed by a magistrate judge that Halligan may have misrepresented the lawto the grand jury that indicted Comey.

The Justice Department is continuing to appeal the ruling disqualifying Halligan and tossing out the prosecutions of Comey and James. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has not yet scheduled arguments on those matters.