Trump Fires Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney Less Than an Hour After His Selection
On July 15, President Trump fired Roger Rogoff, a former judge and veteran prosecutor, less than an hour after all 17 active and senior federal judges in the Western District of Washington unanimously appointed him as the district’s U.S. Attorney. The appointment followed the administration’s use of unusual personnel maneuvers to keep its preferred interim prosecutor in office without Senate confirmation. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Rogoff’s immediate removal and accused the judges of disregarding consultation with the administration. Similar disputes have occurred in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, where courts questioned the legality of administration-backed prosecutorial appointments. The case shows how control over prosecutorial offices can become part of a broader effort to prioritize political loyalty and weaken institutional checks on executive appointment power.