Federal judge rules US prosecutor in Los Angeles Bill Essayli isn't legally serving

Key Points:

• A federal judge ruled that Bill Essayli is unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, marking a setback for the Trump administration's effort to extend acting U.S. attorneys beyond the 120-day legal limit.
• The ruling follows a similar appeals court decision that found another Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorney was unlawfully serving, highlighting ongoing legal challenges to the administration's appointments.
• Essayli was initially appointed Acting U.S. Attorney last year and then designated as First Assistant U.S. Attorney just before the 120-day limit, but the administration never appointed a new acting U.S. attorney, effectively making him the top prosecutor.
• Despite the ruling, Essayli disputes the court's decision and intends to continue serving until the Supreme Court resolves the issue, emphasizing the administration's right to select Justice Department supervisors.
• Essayli, a former state lawmaker known for conservative stances and aggressive immigration enforcement, has been a prominent figure in the administration's conflicts with California over issues like health care fraud and noncitizen voting claims.