It is unclear if he will be permitted to return to his previous role as an assistant U.S. attorney.

Siebert’s removal leaves one of the nation’s most important U.S. attorney’s offices without a leader, according to sources, as Siebert’s deputy has already left her position and intends to continue work in the office as a line prosecutor. With her position vacant, there is currently no answer to who specifically will take over the office and whether any of its attorneys have any authority to continue regular prosecutorial activity.

The investigation into James began in April when Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent the Department of Justice a criminal referral alleging that James falsified records related to her 2023 purchase of a home in Virginia.