Federal Judges Appoint Interim U.S. Attorney, Trump Reacts

A group of federal judges appointed former Democratic Governor Jay Inslee as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington on Wednesday. However, President Donald Trump has already indicated that this appointment may not last long.

“District court judges hold the power to appoint interim U.S. attorneys, but the president can remove them,” stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He criticized the judges for bypassing the traditional process that requires selected U.S. attorneys to coordinate with the administration for their positions.

Background Context

The Biden Justice Department announced on March 1, 2021, the appointment of Tessa Gorman as acting U.S. attorney for the same district, only for her to be dismissed shortly after Trump took office. Later, in October, Trump appointed Charles Neil Floyd, known for his tough stance on immigration, as the new attorney. Typically, U.S. attorneys are nominated by the president and must go through Senate confirmation, but Floyd’s nomination was never submitted to the Senate.

While interim U.S. attorneys can serve without Senate confirmation for only 120 days, the Trump administration took steps to keep Floyd in the position by letting the top role remain vacant and seeking the Justice Department’s approval for an extension.

A federal judge in Seattle has already begun the search for a new U.S. attorney, accepting applications since March.

Swift Dismissal

On Wednesday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, which includes a mix of judges, appointed Roger Rogoff to the U.S. attorney position. This unanimous decision, according to U.S. District Judge David Estudillo, aimed at maintaining the integrity and effective administration of justice in the region.

Rogoff was sworn in at a federal courthouse in Seattle early that morning, but by 8:34 a.m., he received an email notifying him of his termination by presidential order.

Blanche announced at 5:11 p.m. that “Roger Rogoff has been fired by the President.”

This abrupt firing sparked outrage from Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). She criticized the administration on social media, claiming, “Less than an hour after he was appointed by a federal judge, Trump fired Rogoff, not due to lack of qualifications, but because he wants a compliant figure undermining the rule of law.”

Murray also remarked on Rogoff’s notable qualifications and his legal appointment, arguing that the president’s intent appears to lean towards securing an extreme loyalist.

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank dismissed Murray’s statements about Rogoff being “qualified,” suggesting it was merely political maneuvering. “I’m glad he was fired immediately after the left-wing judges acted,” he commented.

In response to his dismissal, Rogoff mentioned he is contemplating legal action, calling it an honor to have been viewed as the right choice by judges in the district for this role.