Virginia’s new attorney general fired the University of Virginia’s counsel who was on leave to serve as the House January 6th Committee’s lead investigator. Attorney General Jason Miyares fired UVA counsel Tim Heaphy along with George Mason University’s counsel.

The Washington Examiner reports:

“The decision had nothing to do with the January 6th committee or their investigations,” Miyares spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “It is common practice for an incoming administration to appoint new staff that share the philosophical and legal approach of the Attorney General. Every counsel serves at the pleasure of the Attorney General.”

Heaphy, a Democrat, was employed by UVA for three years but was on leave to serve as lead investigator for the Jan. 6 committee.

“Our decision was made after reviewing the legal decisions made over the last couple of years,” LaCivita told the Washington Post. “The Attorney General wants the university counsel to return to giving legal advice based on law, and not the philosophy of a university. We plan to look internally first for the next lead counsel.”

University spokesman Brian Coy confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the attorney general removed Heaphy, saying that “university leaders are grateful to Tim for his outstanding service to our community and disappointed to see it come to an end.”