Court-appointed U.S. attorney sues Trump over firing after 54 minutes

Key Points:

• Roger Rogoff, appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington by district court judges, was fired by the Trump administration just 54 minutes after being sworn in and has now filed a lawsuit challenging his removal.
• The lawsuit questions the extent of presidential authority to remove court-appointed U.S. attorneys, arguing that Rogoff should serve until a Senate-confirmed successor is in place, as per federal law.
• The Trump administration maintains that the president has broad authority to dismiss U.S. attorneys, even those appointed by the courts, without coordination with the Department of Justice.
• Rogoff's case is the first known legal challenge of its kind and could set a precedent on whether presidents can bypass Senate confirmation by removing judicially appointed prosecutors at will.
• This firing is part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration of removing U.S. attorneys early in their tenure, raising concerns about the impact on federal law enforcement continuity and independence.