Robert McBride, the deputy prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been dismissed following his refusal to lead the prosecution of James Comey, a former FBI director, and Letitia James, the New York Attorney General. This dismissal is part of a series of personnel changes within the office, which has been involved in contentious criminal cases against both individuals.

McBride, who previously served as a federal prosecutor in Kentucky, was appointed to his position under Lindsey Halligan, an ally of former President Donald Trump, who was installed as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in September 2025. His termination reportedly followed a judge's ruling that Halligan's appointment was unlawful, leading to the dismissal of the cases against Comey and James. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently appealing this ruling.

The situation has been marked by significant turnover in the office, with at least four other career prosecutors reportedly dismissed due to their reluctance to pursue charges against Comey or James. Halligan's administration has faced scrutiny, particularly after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, was removed for determining there was insufficient evidence to charge James.

The charges against Comey, which involve allegations of lying to Congress, and against James, related to mortgage fraud, have been criticized as potentially politically motivated actions aimed at undermining opponents of the Trump administration. In November, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled that Halligan had unlawfully held her position, as U.S. Attorneys require Senate confirmation and can only serve in an interim capacity for a limited time. A federal judge has since ordered Halligan to clarify her continued reference to herself as the U.S. Attorney despite the ruling against her appointment.