WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) – The top prosecutor who is overseeing a criminal mortgage fraud investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James resigned from his post on Friday, after President Donald Trump called for him to be removed from the job, according to an internal email seen by Reuters and a person familiar with the matter.
Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, informed his staff about his resignation not long after Trump told reporters at the White House he had lost confidence in him.
“This evening, I submitted my resignation as Interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA,” he wrote. “For the last eight months, I have had the pleasure of leading the finest and most exceptional of DOJ employees who care deeply about our nation and our EDVA community.”
“Thank you for the lessons you have taught me, the sacrifices you have made, and the pursuit of justice you strive for every day,” he added.
Siebert could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I want him out,” Trump told reporters on Friday.
Siebert has previously expressed doubts about the strength of the case, according to two people familiar with the matter. Prior to Trump’s public comments on Friday evening, administration officials had privately informed Siebert that the White House might fire him, the two sources added.
Trump said he had soured on Siebert after learning that Virginia’s two Democratic U.S. senators supported his nomination.
Siebert was first appointed as interim U.S. Attorney in January and later appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after his temporary appointment expired. Trump had also previously nominated him to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.
In addition to handling the mortgage fraud probe against James, Siebert’s office has also been involved in a separate criminal investigation of former FBI Director James Comey related to the agency’s past probes of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Siebert has expressed a view that the evidence in both cases was weak and that it would be difficult to bring an indictment against them, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss non-public investigations and personnel issues.