Senate Resumes Confirmation Hearing for Todd Blanche Amid Heated Testimony
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is under fresh scrutiny as his Senate confirmation hearing unfolds on Capitol Hill. Missouri Attorney General Kathryn Hannaway provided insights into Blanche’s work, emphasizing his focus on law enforcement priorities and efforts to reduce crime. Meanwhile, senators have raised questions about Blanche’s independence and his previous actions at the Justice Department.
The Trump administration has escalated the debate over the control of U.S. attorney appointments, notably firing a Seattle prosecutor shortly after his appointment without prior authorization from the administration. “District judges can appoint interim U.S. attorneys, and the president has the power to remove them,” Blanche remarked on social media during his hearing, expressing criticism towards the committee that endorsed Judge Roger Rogoff for the role of Seattle’s main federal prosecutor.
“The judges in the Western District of Washington have deviated from the usual process, which involved consulting with the administration to ensure appointed federal prosecutors were eligible,” Blanche stated. He confirmed that “Roger Rogoff has been dismissed by the president.”
This dismissal was announced soon after Rogoff, a former King County Superior Court judge with extensive experience as a state and federal prosecutor, was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington at around 8 a.m. local time.
While testifying, Blanche returned to the Senate on Thursday, where discussions about Rogoff’s situation could become a focal point of the ongoing confirmation process.
The immediate termination of Rogoff occurred following the decision of all 17 active and senior federal judges in the Azure District to appoint him to fill vacancies in their court. This action took place after the administration did not advance Charles Neil Floyd’s nomination to the Senate; instead, Floyd was left in a transitional role as the first assistant U.S. attorney.
According to federal law, the president usually nominates the U.S. attorney for each district, subject to Senate confirmation. The attorney general can appoint an interim U.S. attorney for up to 120 days. If no confirmation occurs by the end of that period, district judges have the authority to appoint successors until the position is filled.
Due to blockades from Democrats in the Senate, President Trump’s administration has often relied on interim appointments and other personnel adjustments to maintain its prosecutor workforce. Legal challenges have emerged in various Democrat-leaning districts, including Seattle and New Jersey, countering the Justice Department’s actions.
“I don’t believe that’s the appropriate way to manage the Department of Justice,” Rogoff commented. “When individuals are placed in such fabricated positions, it undermines the process.”
Senator Patty Murray from Washington expressed her opposition to Floyd’s appointment and condemned Rogoff’s abrupt firing. She stated that Rogoff had exemplified exemplary public service and was legally appointed, adding criticisms against the administration for its preference to install its own associates.
Yet, administration officials have asserted that the Senate’s role in “advise and consent” doesn’t empower Democrats to thwart executive priorities or block presidential nominees effectively.
Now, Rogoff is contemplating a legal challenge regarding his termination. He has maintained a private employment law practice and expressed pride in his career. “The trust from my colleagues who have recommended me for this position is incredibly humbling,” Rogoff noted.
The situation in Seattle reflects similar disputes in other regions. In New Jersey, Alina Haba resigned after an appellate court determined her detention was unlawful. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Lindsey Harrigan stepped down as the acting U.S. attorney following a ruling that her appointment was illegal.
