Jessica Aber, the former US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, was found dead at her home on Saturday morning. Police are now investigating the sudden death of the high-profile lawyer, who was just 43 years old.
According to reports, officers from the Alexandria police department discovered Aber’s body shortly before 9:20 am after receiving a call about an “unresponsive woman.” The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, and the official cause will be determined by the Virginia medical examiner’s office, as per the New York Post.
Aber, a Biden appointee, resigned from her position in January following the transition of power to President Donald Trump. She had a distinguished legal career, serving as an assistant US attorney in the district from 2009 before taking on a role as counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in 2015. In 2021, she was nominated by President Joe Biden for the top prosecutor role in the Eastern District of Virginia and was confirmed unanimously by the senate.
US Attorney Erik Siebert, who currently holds the position, expressed deep sorrow over Aber’s passing in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
“We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, US Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being,” Siebert said.
Investigations into her death are ongoing.