Trump Fires Seattle’s Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney Less Than an Hour After Swearing-In

By Blessing Nweke

President Donald Trump dismissed Seattle’s newly appointed U.S. attorney on Wednesday less than an hour after he was unanimously selected and sworn in by federal judges, intensifying a growing dispute between the judiciary and the administration over the appointment of top federal prosecutors.

Roger Rogoff, a former state judge and veteran prosecutor, took the oath of office shortly before 8 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Seattle. After the ceremony, he went to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to meet Charles Neil Floyd, whose 120-day interim appointment had expired in February. While waiting in the office lobby, Rogoff said he received an email from the Trump administration informing him that he had been removed from the position.

Rogoff said he is consulting attorneys about the possibility of filing a lawsuit challenging his dismissal.

Under U.S. law, presidents nominate U.S. attorneys subject to Senate confirmation. When an interim appointment expires before a nominee is confirmed, federal district judges are authorized to appoint a temporary replacement.

The Trump administration has instead sought to keep unconfirmed prosecutors in office through administrative changes. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Rogoff’s dismissal, arguing that while judges may appoint temporary U.S. attorneys, the president retains the authority to remove them. He also criticized the judges for not consulting the administration before making the appointment.

The federal judges in western Washington unanimously selected Rogoff after a bipartisan review panel evaluated applicants, following legal questions surrounding the administration’s handling of Floyd’s position.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray condemned Rogoff’s swift removal, calling his appointment lawful and accusing the administration of bypassing the Senate confirmation process to install political loyalists.

Rogoff acknowledged he anticipated being fired but said he accepted the appointment because serving as U.S. attorney remained “the best job there is” for a prosecutor, adding he was deeply honored by the judges’ confidence in his qualifications.