Washington, September 20 (HS): A senior US federal prosecutor has resigned after President Donald Trump publicly demanded his removal during an ongoing investigation involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Erik Siebert, the interim US attorney for the influential Eastern District of Virginia, stepped down late Friday within hours of Trump declaring, “I want him out,” in remarks to reporters. Siebert had reportedly raised concerns about the weakness of the government’s mortgage fraud case against James.

The Trump administration has accused James of falsifying records to secure favourable mortgage terms — allegations she has dismissed as “baseless” and rooted in “revenge.” James, a Democrat, successfully pursued a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump in 2023, intensifying political tensions between the two.

Trump, in comments that critics described as an attack on judicial independence, said Siebert “can’t be any good” if he was questioning a case against James. Legal observers warn the episode could further fuel concerns that the administration is pressuring the Department of Justice to settle scores with political rivals.

Siebert’s abrupt resignation underscores the fragile balance between prosecutorial independence and presidential influence as high-profile cases with political overtones play out in the lead-up to a heated election climate.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar