Warner & Kaine Announce Recommendations for U.S. Attorneys for Virginia’s Eastern and Western Districts

U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine have officially recommended candidates for the vacant U.S. Attorney positions in Virginia’s Eastern and Western Districts. The two Senators, who have long been engaged in Virginia’s political and legal communities, sent a letter to President Trump endorsing a slate of highly qualified individuals for these important federal positions.

For the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), Warner and Kaine recommended Michael Gill, Assistant General Counsel and Director of Investigations at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), and Erik Siebert, the current Interim U.S. Attorney for the district. For the Western District of Virginia (WDVA), they endorsed Christopher “Todd” Gilbert, the Minority Leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Robert Tracci, Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief for Major Crimes and Emerging Threats at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

In their announcement, the Senators expressed their confidence in the selected candidates, emphasizing their extensive experience and commitment to upholding justice. “After reviewing interviews and receiving recommendations from a bipartisan panel of esteemed attorneys across the Commonwealth, we are proud to recommend these four candidates, who we believe are exceptionally qualified to serve as U.S. Attorneys,” said Senators Warner and Kaine.

Meet the Recommended Candidates

For the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA):

• Michael Gill
  Michael Gill brings over two decades of experience in federal law enforcement to his candidacy. He currently serves as Assistant General Counsel and Director of Investigations at Huntington Ingalls Industries, a major shipbuilding company in Newport News, Virginia. Before joining HII, Gill spent 15 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, most recently as Chief of the Criminal Division, where he supervised operations across the district’s four divisions. Gill holds a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Texas Christian University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.
• Erik Siebert
  Erik Siebert is currently serving as the Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. His career in law enforcement began as a police officer and investigator with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. He later joined the EDVA as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA), where he worked on cases involving violent crimes, firearms trafficking, and narcotics. Siebert also served as the Deputy Criminal Supervisor in the EDVA’s Richmond Division, overseeing AUSAs and collaborating with federal, state, and local partners. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Virginia Military Institute and a Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law.

For the Western District of Virginia (WDVA):

• Christopher “Todd” Gilbert
  Todd Gilbert has served in the Virginia House of Delegates for 20 years, including as Speaker and Majority Leader. He is a prominent figure in Virginia politics, having built a strong reputation for leadership. Gilbert also has nearly 15 years of experience prosecuting criminal and traffic cases in Shenandoah, Warren, and Frederick counties, as well as in the City of Lynchburg. He currently runs his own law firm, focusing on criminal defense. Gilbert earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
• Robert Tracci
  Robert Tracci brings significant experience in both state and federal law enforcement. He currently serves as Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief for Major Crimes and Emerging Threats in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Tracci previously served as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Albemarle County and worked as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the WDVA, where he prosecuted complex fraud, firearms, narcotics, and child exploitation cases. Tracci holds a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.

What’s Next?

With the Senators’ recommendations now submitted to President Trump, the next step is for the President to nominate one individual for each vacancy. The nominations will then be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered by the full Senate for confirmation.

The process of selecting U.S. Attorneys for Virginia’s Eastern and Western Districts is essential to the administration of justice in the Commonwealth. By recommending candidates with deep experience in both criminal law and public service, Senators Warner and Kaine have underscored their commitment to appointing highly capable individuals to these key roles.

As the nominations proceed, the future of Virginia’s U.S. Attorneys looks to be in good hands, with each of these candidates bringing years of experience, leadership, and dedication to the table.