Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Jessica Aber, the 43-year-old former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia known for overseeing high-profile prosecutions who was found dead in her Virginia home over the weekend, reportedly had a chronic health condition.
The Context
According to the Alexandria Police Department, officers responded to a call for an unresponsive woman at Aber’s residence around 9:18 a.m. on Saturday. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released an official cause of death and are treating the investigation as standard protocol.
Aber’s death drew national attention due to her role as a U.S. attorney overseeing significant criminal cases with geopolitical implications. Her tenure included the prosecution of MS-13 gang members, a corporate espionage case against Siemens Energy, and charges against Russian nationals in a war crimes case tied to the war in Ukraine.
Former President Joe Biden nominated her to the court in 2021, and the U.S. Senate confirmed her unanimously. Aber previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the Criminal Division in the Eastern District of Virginia.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on December 6, 2023 U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on December 6, 2023 Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Did Jessica Aber Have a Medical Condition Prior To Death?
A family friend told Fox News that Aber had a chronic medical condition, though no specifics were publicly disclosed. They also said that while Aber’s passing was unexpected, it is not believed to be suspicious.
What To Know
Aber’s death occurred just weeks after she stepped down from her position as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In a press release announcing her departure, she emphasized her commitment to justice and public service:
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