Kaine Statement on Trump’s Retribution Against Former FBI Director James Comey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's malicious prosecution of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey:

"I've had my differences with James Comey in the past, but I can spot trumped-up charges a mile away. Trump said he'd go after him, then fired a superb, ethical prosecutor when he refused to bring frivolous charges against those whom Trump perceived to be his enemies. Now he has installed yet another one of his personal lawyers as the interim U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia-this one a Florida insurance lawyer with no prosecutorial experience and no connection to Virginia-to do his bidding. The rule of law must prevail."

Last week, Warner and Kaine blasted President Donald Trump's forcing out of Erik Siebert, interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, because Siebert was unwilling to bring criminal charges against Trump's perceived enemies.

On January 21, 2025, the Trump administration appointed Erik Siebert as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In April, after an extensive interview process that included the input of a bipartisan panel of former Virginia U.S. attorneys and other well-respected members of the Virginia legal community, Warner and Kaine sent a letter to the White House recommending Siebert for the U.S. attorney position. In May, the White House announced that Siebert was formally nominated for the role. Siebert was serving in an interim capacity because he had not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 9, 2025, the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously voted for Seibert to continue as the interim U.S. Attorney.

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