WASHINGTON (AP) — A conservative lawyer who has said she was falsely accused of being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been tapped to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the Virginia office that was thrown into turmoil when its U.S. attorney was pushed out on Friday.

Mary “Maggie” Cleary said in an email to staff on Saturday that she had been named acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, according to a copy viewed by The Associated Press.

She replaces Erik Siebert, who resigned amid a push by Trump administration officials to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James in a mortgage fraud investigation.

“While this appointment was unexpected, I am humbled to be joining your ranks,” Cleary told employees in the email.

Cleary will

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