In a move that raised eyebrows across legal and journalistic circles, Lindsey Halligan — a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney overseeing politically charged cases — privately contacted a reporter through the encrypted app Signal to complain about coverage of one of her indictments. Then, after more than a day of exchanges, she insisted their entire conversation had been “off the record.”

This Is All New For Halligan

Halligan, 36, was appointed last month as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. She replaced a predecessor who resigned after reportedly finding no grounds to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James. Days later, under Halligan’s supervision, a grand jury indicted James for allegedly making false statements to a financial institution in connection with a 2020 home loan. James has denied any wrongdoing.

Halligan Reached Out To A Reporter on Signal

The case quickly became national news. The New York Times published an investigation into the Norfolk, Virginia, property at the center of the indictment, reporting details that appeared to undercut prosecutors’ claims. Lawfare reporter Anna Bower shared excerpts of the article on X, calling some of the revelations “important exculpatory evidence.” That’s when Halligan reached out. “You are reporting things that are simply not true,” Halligan wrote to Bower via Signal, according to screenshots later published by Lawfare. “Thought you should have a heads up.”

They Had A 33 Hour Exchange

What followed was a 33-hour exchange between the nation’s top prosecutor in Virginia and an independent journalist — an interaction that blurred professional boundaries and raised questions about Halligan’s understanding of both media ethics and prosecutorial protocol. Bower responded, asking Halligan to identify any factual inaccuracies in her posts and offering to issue corrections if warranted. Halligan declined to specify what was wrong, instead accusing Bower of bias. “You’re assuming exculpatory evidence without knowing what you’re talking about,” she wrote. “I’m the one handling the case. If you want to twist and torture the facts to fit your narrative, there’s nothing I can do.”

Off The Record

When Bower pressed again for clarity, Halligan grew terse. “Waste to even give you a heads up,” she replied. The following day, Bower reached out once more with follow-up questions. Halligan’s tone shifted. “By the way — everything I ever sent you is off record,” she wrote. “You’re not a journalist so it’s weird saying that, but just letting you know.” Bower refused to accept that retroactive condition. “I’m sorry, but that’s not how this works,” she responded. “You don’t get to say that in retrospect.” Halligan persisted. “Yes I do. Off record,” she wrote.

This Is An Ethical Mess

Bower clarified that if Halligan had requested an off-record discussion from the start, she would have agreed — but the prosecutor never did. Halligan replied, “It’s obvious the whole convo is off record. There’s disappearing messages and it’s on Signal.” The exchange, which quickly went viral among legal commentators, has fueled concerns about Halligan’s conduct and judgment. Federal prosecutors are generally prohibited from discussing ongoing investigations, particularly with reporters. Doing so through encrypted, disappearing messages only compounds those ethical concerns.

This Story Is Just One Of Halligan’s Problems

Halligan’s appointment itself has come under scrutiny. Defense attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey, another Trump critic whom she indicted on unrelated charges, have moved to dismiss the case, arguing that Halligan was “invalidly appointed” and lacks the legal authority to prosecute. They also note she had no prior experience as a prosecutor before her appointment. The controversy comes amid growing unease over Trump’s direct involvement in federal appointments. In a Truth Social post reportedly intended for former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump complained that “nothing is being done” against his perceived enemies — including James, Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff — all of whom he described as “guilty as hell.”