C. Todd Gilbert, of Woodstock, quit his U.S. attorney post Wednesday just five weeks after his appointment.

Gilbert resigned as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia effective Wednesday at 5 p.m., office spokesman Brian McGinn confirmed by email on Thursday. At that time, Robert N. Tracci, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney assumed the role of acting U.S. attorney, according to McGinn.

Gilbert did not return a call or an email for comment.

Gilbert’s resignation took U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine by surprise, according to a statement from the senator’s office on Thursday. Kaine and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, both Democrats, had recommended the Gilbert, a Republican, for the job.

Kaine and Warner’s spokespeople issued the following statement Thursday:

“The senators were surprised to learn

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