Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jessica Aber, was found dead in her Virginia home at the age of 43. 

Key Details: The cause of death is unknown and being investigated by local police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. Aber was at the helm of high-profile investigations into intelligence leaks, torture allegations against “Russian-affiliated” militants, a national security investigation against an Israeli migrant smuggler, Virginia’s former Republican Governor Bob McDonnell, and others before resigning. 

For Context: Aber, who was appointed by then-President Joe Biden, resigned the day before President Donald Trump was sworn in. Up until she resigned, Aber was active on X, posting about prosecutions she was involved in.

How The Media Covered It: Several large mainstream outlets ran multiple pieces of coverage on the news when it broke, and also explainers about who Aber was and some of her legal dealings. Newsweek (Center bias) offered a simple news article, and provided a more in-depth look at some of Aber's work, highlighting her involvement in high-profile investigations. The Independent (Lean Left) took a similar approach. In its news headline, it called the death a “mystery” and for an explainer wrote that Aber “investigated Russians, Israelis, financial fraudsters and violent criminals.” Most mainstream outlets did not mention her prosecution of the Israeli national, though it was discussed significantly on X.

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