President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington less than an hour after federal judges appointed him on Wednesday morning, according to multiple reports from CBS News, The Guardian, UPI, HuffPost and PBS. The swift termination highlights escalating tensions between the Trump administration and federal courts over control of U.S. attorney positions.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington less than an hour after federal judges appointed him, highlighting tensions between the administration and federal courts over control of U.S. attorney positions.
- Federal judges in Seattle unanimously appointed Rogoff, citing his deep ties to the region.
- Rogoff was sworn in before 8 a.m. at the U.S. courthouse in downtown Seattle and then fired via email while waiting to meet with Charles Neil Floyd.
- The Western District of Washington has lacked a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since mid-2023.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the judges' appointment process, while Sen. Patty Murray condemned Rogoff's firing as an attempt to install 'cronies.'
- This incident is part of a broader pattern where Trump has fired court-appointed U.S. attorneys in several states.
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 6 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointment Process | 1 Difference | Los Angeles Times reports judges abandoned consultation; other outlets report legal appointment process | ▼ |
| Rogers Firing | Broad Agreement | Fired less than an hour after appointment | |
| Rogers Qualifications | Broad Agreement | Former judge with extensive experience as both state and federal prosecutor |
Appointment Process
▼Los Angeles Times reports judges abandoned consultation; other outlets report legal appointment process
Rogers Firing
Broad AgreementFired less than an hour after appointment
Rogers Qualifications
Broad AgreementFormer judge with extensive experience as both state and federal prosecutor
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The panel of 17 active and senior judges in Seattle unanimously appointed Rogoff, a former judge with extensive experience as both state and federal prosecutor, to fill the vacant position. According to CBS News, the judges highlighted Rogoff's 'deep ties' to the region and his career-long commitment to serving its citizens.
Rogoff was sworn in before 8 a.m. at the U.S. courthouse in downtown Seattle, according to PBS. He then went to the U.S. Attorney's Office and asked to meet with Charles Neil Floyd, whose 120-day interim term as U.S. Attorney ended in February. As he waited in a lobby, Rogoff received an email from the Trump administration informing him of his removal.
The Western District of Washington has lacked a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since mid-2023, with Trump previously firing Tessa Gorman who had been temporarily appointed by district judges in May 2024. The current situation stems from the expiration of Charles Neil Floyd's interim term as U.S. Attorney in February.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the judges' appointment process, stating on social media that they 'abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration.' Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) condemned Rogoff's firing, calling it an attempt to install 'cronies' and bypass Senate confirmation processes.
This incident is part of a broader pattern where Trump has fired court-appointed U.S. attorneys in several states including New Jersey, New York, Nevada, and Virginia. Federal judges have argued that the administration's appointments were unlawful, with at least one federal appeals court ruling against Trump.
Rogoff stated he is consulting with other lawyers about suing over his firing, according to PBS. He expressed pride in his career and humility at being chosen by the district judges. The positions of U.S. attorneys typically require Senate confirmation, except in temporary appointments when judges in a judicial district can name a U.S. attorney.
According to Los Angeles Times, Presidents normally appoint U.S. attorneys, the top federal prosecutor in each judicial district. However, under Trump, the Justice Department has sought to leave unconfirmed prosecutors in their positions indefinitely, often through novel personnel maneuvers. The administration named Floyd first assistant U.S. attorney while leaving the top post empty after his interim term expired.
In May, a U.S. appeals court panel expressed skepticism that this maneuver was legal. The federal judges in Seattle decided to take applications for the position and appointed a bipartisan panel to review them. On Wednesday morning, the court issued its unanimous order naming Rogoff the U.S. attorney for western Washington.
Rogoff, who spent 20 years as a state prosecutor and six as a federal prosecutor before becoming a state judge, said he knew the administration might fire him immediately but had no qualms about the potential conflict. He described being U.S. attorney as 'the best job there is' for a prosecutor.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 6 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.