Trump fires new U.S. attorney in Seattle within an hour

Key Points:

• Roger Rogoff was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington by federal judges but was fired by President Trump less than an hour later, sparking a legal dispute over judicial authority to appoint U.S. attorneys without presidential nomination.
• The Trump administration has avoided formally nominating Neil Floyd, the interim U.S. attorney, leading judges to appoint Rogoff under a federal statute allowing judicial appointments when no presidential nomination occurs.
• Senator Patty Murray condemned Rogoff’s firing, accusing the administration of trying to install a partisan figure and bypass the Senate confirmation process, emphasizing the need for fair and responsible law enforcement leadership.
• Rogoff plans to pursue legal action against the administration, highlighting concerns over political interference in prosecutorial decisions and the importance of respecting lawful judicial appointments.
• Similar controversies have occurred in other districts, with Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorneys being fired shortly after judicial appointments, raising questions about the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive in U.S. attorney appointments.