President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff as U.S. attorney for western Washington on Thursday, less than an hour after federal judges unanimously appointed him to the post. Rogoff had been sworn in before 8 a.m. at the Seattle courthouse.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the dismissal and accused the judges of failing to consult with the administration. Blanche stated that district court judges may appoint a temporary U.S. attorney and the president retains the authority to fire them. Senator Patty Murray criticized the move, arguing Rogoff was legally appointed and should not have been removed.
The Western District of Washington has lacked a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since mid-2023. The firing follows a pattern of disputes over prosecutor appointments, including the departures of court-appointed or acting U.S. attorneys in New Jersey and Virginia after courts found their service unlawful.