Western Virginia U.S. Attorney Todd Gilbert Resigns, Robert Tracci Assumes Role

Todd Gilbert, the Trump-nominated U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, abruptly resigned after just over a month in office. Gilbert, a former Republican speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates with nearly 20 years of legislative experience, was appointed acting U.S. Attorney by Attorney General Pam Bondi and nominated by President Donald Trump, with bipartisan recommendations from Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Robert N. Tracci, Gilbert's first assistant and a former Charlottesville commonwealth’s attorney, has taken over as acting U.S. Attorney. Gilbert did not provide an official reason for his sudden departure but acknowledged it on social media with a meme referencing the rapid change. This resignation follows broader Trump DOJ efforts to replace institutionalist officials with loyalists, although Gilbert himself was a Trump nominee. No further details were provided, and the reasons behind the resignation remain undisclosed as the story develops.