Jessica Aber, 43, who served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District in Virginia during the Biden administration, has died, according to a March 22 statement by the Alexandria police.
An official cause of death has not been released. ABC News reported the death appears to be from natural causes due to a longstanding medical issue. There is no indication of foul play.
Jessica Aber’s Background
According to her U.S. Department of Justice profile, Aber graduated from the University of Richmond in 2003. She received her law degree from William & Mary Law School in 2006.
Prior to joining the Justice Department, she was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP and served as a law clerk for then-Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Aber took office as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District in Virginia in October 2021 after she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. In the role, she led a staff of approximately 300 prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel across four divisions located in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News.
She stepped down from the office this January following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Social Media Tributes
Current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert posted a statement on X on March 22. He said: “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.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also posted on X: “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.”
Feature image courtesy U.S. Justice Department
