Latest news with #EDVA
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alexandria police release suspected cause of death of former US attorney Jessica Aber
The Brief Jessica Aber, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was found dead inside an Alexandria home last weekend. The Alexandria Police Department says at this time, it's believed Aber, 43, died of natural causes. Police say the case will remain open until the Medical Examiner returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death. ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The Alexandria Police Department has released the suspected cause of death of a former U.S. attorney. Jessica Aber, 43, was found dead in a home in Alexandria on Saturday, March 22, after receiving a report about an "unresponsive woman" around 9:20 a.m. Aber was found inside the home and was pronounced dead at the scene. Although the investigation is ongoing, police say "at this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes." What we know Aber served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2021 to 2025. Appointed by former President Joe Biden, she served in the role until resigning when President Trump took office again on Jan. 20. According to Aber's Department of Justice biography, she graduated from William & Mary Law School in 2006. She joined the Justice Department in 2009 as an assistant U.S. attorney, "taking on a variety of financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases." Before DOJ, she was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP from 2007 to 2008 and a law clerk for then-federal Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck from 2006 to 2007. In 2019, Aber received the DOJ's Assistant Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service. As U.S. attorney, she led a staff of about 300 prosecutors, civil litigators and support personnel across four divisions in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News. What they're saying U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert said Aber was "unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being." "We are heartbroken beyond words," Siebert's statement reads. "We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard. Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life's work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted." What we don't know Police say the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death. It's not yet clear when that report may be released. For now, law enforcement is asking the public to respect the privacy of the family as the investigation continues. Police say any further updates will come from the OCME of Virginia. The Source Alexandria City Police Department
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alexandria detectives: Former US Attorney's death seems to be from natural causes
ALEXANDRIA, Va. () — In an update Tuesday evening, Alexandria Police Department (APD) detectives said they have not found any evidence suggesting Jessica Aber's death was caused by anything other than natural causes. The former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was found dead Saturday morning. She was 43 years old. The case remains open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on her cause and manner of death, APD noted. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former US Attorney found dead at 43, Alexandria police say The department urged people to respect the privacy of her family during this time of loss as authorities continue to investigate. After her passing, the U.S. Attorney's Office released the following statement: We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being. We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard. Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life's work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former US Attorney Jessica Aber, 43, Found Dead in Virginia Home
Former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber has been found dead in her Virginia home at the age of 43. According to NBC News, Alexandria, Virginia, police found Aber deceased after receiving a call about an "unresponsive woman" around 9:18 a.m. on March 22, 2025. The cause of death for Aber has not been released. 'As a matter of protocol, an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death,' police said, according to NBC, which noted that the cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner, and it's not yet clear whether the death was suspicious. Aber's death was also confirmed by U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert, who said in a statement, 'We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being." He added: "Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life's work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted.' According to Newsweek, before stepping down after the inauguration, Aber led "high-profile investigations into intelligence leaks, allegations of war crimes against Russian-linked individuals, and people suspected of providing sensitive U.S. technology to Moscow." For example, one DOJ news release lists her as being involved in the prosecution of a "dual U.S.-Russian citizen" who pleaded guilty "to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act by exporting firearm parts, components, and ammunition to Russia without the required authorization." She was also involved in the case of former CIA analyst Asif Rahman, 34, of Vienna, who pled guilty "to retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information, which was publicly posted on a social media platform in October 2024," according to DOJ. She was active on X through January, when she stepped down. "Serving as U.S. Attorney has been an honor. EDVA is full of dedicated, extraordinary public servants. Thanks to everyone who kept up with EDVA's fantastic work on X during my tenure," she wrote on X on Jan. 17. According to the U.S. Department of Justice news release on her appointment, Aber served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). As U.S. Attorney, Aber supervised "the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest. She leads a staff of approximately 300 prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel across four Divisions located in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News. The district serves over six million residents," the release said. "U.S. Attorney Aber was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on August 10, 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on October 5, 2021 for the position of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. President Biden signed Ms. Aber's commission on October 7, 2021," it notes. "Ms. Aber began her service to EDVA in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, taking on a variety of financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases. From 2015 to 2016, she served on a detail assignment as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. Since 2016, Ms. Aber has served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for EDVA," the release continues. "Ms. Aber received the Assistant Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service from the Department of Justice in 2019." The release says that before joining DOJ, Aber "was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP from 2007 to 2008. She served as a law clerk for then-Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2006 to 2007. Ms. Aber received her J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2006 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond in 2003."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Jessica Aber, former US attorney, found dead at home in Virginia
The Brief Jessica Aber, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has died. She was 43. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert said Aber was "unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being." A former US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was found dead in a home in Alexandria, Virginia, Saturday morning. Jessica Aber, 43, was nominated by Joe Biden to serve in the Eastern District in August 2021. She was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. What we know Aber served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2021 to 2025. Appointed by former President Joe Biden, she served in the role until resigning when President Trump took office again on Jan. 20. Police in Alexandria, Virginia, say officers responded about 9:20 a.m. Saturday to a call about an "unresponsive woman." According to Aber's Department of Justice biography, she graduated from William & Mary Law School in 2006. She joined the Justice Department in 2009 as an assistant U.S. attorney, "taking on a variety of financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases." Before DOJ, she was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP from 2007 to 2008 and a law clerk for then-federal Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck from 2006 to 2007. READ MORE: DC police identify remains found in Anacostia River as 17-year-old missing since January In 2019, Aber received the DOJ's Assistant Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service. As U.S. attorney, she led a staff of about 300 prosecutors, civil litigators and support personnel across four divisions in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News. What we don't know Aber's cause of death is unclear. Police said that will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia What they're saying U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert said Aber was "unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being." "We are heartbroken beyond words," Siebert's statement reads. "We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard. Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life's work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted." The Source This report includes information from the Alexandria Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Department of Justice website.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former U.S. attorney for Virginia found dead at 43
Former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber was found dead in Alexandria on Saturday morning, police said. She was 43. Police discovered Aber's body while responding to a report of an unresponsive woman around 9:20 a.m., the Alexandria Police Department said in a statement. Police did not indicate whether they believed the death was suspicious and said the medical examiner's office would determine the cause and manner of death. 'As a matter of protocol, an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death,' police said. Aber resigned as U.S. attorney on Jan. 20, the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. She was appointed by President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2021, and was then confirmed by the Senate. Aber had been an assistant U.S. attorney for the district since 2009 and was deputy chief of the criminal division before being named U.S. attorney, her department biography says. U.S. attorneys are political appointees and can be removed at the will of the president. Trump in February said on Truth Social he 'instructed the termination' of all the remaining U.S. attorneys under Biden. The U.S. attorney for the district, Erik S. Siebert, said he and the office were heartbroken over Aber's death. 'She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being,' he said in a statement. 'She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back,' Siebert wrote. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi also expressed her condolences, saying, 'The loss of Jessica Aber, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is deeply tragic.' 'Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this profoundly difficult time,' Bondi said. This article was originally published on
