U.S. Attorney MacBride to step down

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Neil H. MacBride, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, will resign next month after one four-year term in the office.

MacBride’s office is in the midst of investigations of both Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and the WikiLeaks organization, but friends told The Washington Post MacBride ultimately decided those cases were in good hands.

MacBride was appointed by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 15, 2009, to a four year term.

His resignation is effective midnight Sept. 13.  An acting U.S. attorney will be appointed until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli praised MacBride as a partner in Virginia law enforcement efforts.

“We worked together to prosecute human traffickers, child pornographers, and those who committed Medicaid fraud. Our many joint efforts are a strong testament to how our offices — run by public servants from different parties — can work well together. I’m sorry to see him go,” Cuccinelli said in a statement from his office.