by Dick Hall-Sizemore

In a surprise move, Todd Gilbert has resigned his position as acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.  Gilbert, a stalwart conservative Republican and former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, had been in the position for a little over a month.  Gilbert offered no explanation for his resignation.

Brandon Jarvis, who publishes the Virginia Political Newsletter, reports that the story among insiders is that Gilbert was forced out by the Trump administration because he dared to buck the leaders in Washington. 

Time for a little background.  Virginia’s Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, had submitted two recommendations to the Trump administration: Gilbert and Rober Tracci, former Commonwealth’s attorney in Charlottesville.  Trump nominated Gilbert, who was then sworn in as the interim U.S. Attorney, awaiting confirmation by the Senate.  Gilbert called it the opportunity of a lifetime.

According to Jarvis’ sources, “the White House wanted him to replace an employee who worked in the office under the Biden administration and hire Robert Tracci, who was the other person in contention with Gilbert for the appointment.”  Gilbert pushed back, citing his prerogative to hire his own choices for his staff.   He eventually gave in and hired Tracci as the number two official in the office. 

Gilbert’s display of independence must have irked or alarmed someone in the White House, because word soon came down that the President would withdraw his nomination unless he resigned.

Tracci is now acting U.S. Attorney.