In a surprising turn of events, the Justice Department has swiftly fired a newly appointed U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia just hours after federal judges selected him to replace a Trump loyalist. The abrupt dismissal of James Handley has raised concerns over the continued impact of political affiliations on federal appointments. This incident marks another instance of a newly appointed prosecutor being dismissed almost immediately, prompting discussions about the implications for judicial independence and the ongoing tensions surrounding prosecutor appointments in the region.