Trump fires U.S. attorney in Washington, Roger Rogoff, on heels of court appointment

Key Points:

• President Trump fired Roger Rogoff as the top federal prosecutor in Seattle shortly after federal judges appointed him to the role, citing a lack of consultation with the administration.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the judges for bypassing the traditional consultation process, while Washington Senator Patty Murray condemned the firing, accusing Trump of trying to install politically motivated appointees.
• Rogoff, who has a long career in public service in the region, was appointed by the Western District of Washington judges after the district lacked a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since mid-2023.
• This incident is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and federal district courts, where judges have appointed U.S. attorneys during vacancies, only for Trump to fire them and attempt to install his own allies.
• Legal challenges have arisen over the legitimacy of Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorneys, with some courts ruling the appointments unlawful and ongoing appeals considering the issue in multiple states.