McClellan Statement on U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia’s Resignation

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned amidst pressure from the Trump Administration:

"Federal prosecutors play a critical role ensuring the rule of law by enforcing federal laws without bias. They must remain impartial and free from partisan politics or personal vendettas. These prosecutors represent the people, not the President.

"By pressuring federal prosecutors to pursue his personal and political vendettas, President Trump endangers the rule of law and makes a mockery of the notion of liberty and justice for all.

"U.S. Attorneys take an oath to support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to bear true faith and allegiance to it. Now, the U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia have been forced to resign because they honored that oath rather than blindly obey the President. The fact that they were forced to make that choice should alarm us all."