CHARLOTTSEVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – After only five weeks on a job he called “the opportunity of a lifetime”, Todd Gilbert has resigned without explanation as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Former Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Tracci, who was one of the runners-up for the job when Gilbert was chosen, is now serving as the interim… as Gilbert last night only posted a gif on social media of Ron Burgundy, the Will Ferrell character in the movie “Anchorman”, saying “boy, that escalated quickly”.

Gilbert resigned last month after 20 years in the legislature and was Republican House leader and a former House Speaker. He was practicing law in Woodstock before being recommended by both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators along with Tracci as possible U.S. Attorneys. A group of three Virginia Republican Representatives, including the 5th District’s Johm McGuire, had also interview potential U.S. Attorneys but did not make their selection known.

Gilbert was technically still an “interim” because he had not been confirmed by the Senate, yet, and now Tracci is in that role.