DOJ Fires U.S. Attorney in Seattle Less Than an Hour After Judges' Unanimous Selection
President Trump fired Roger Rogoff, the newly selected U.S. Attorney for western Washington, less than an hour after a panel of federal judges unanimously chose him, escalating the administration's politicization of the Justice Department and undermining prosecutorial independence. The firing, carried out by Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—Trump's former criminal defense lawyer—signals that the DOJ will not tolerate independent U.S. Attorneys in districts that have handled cases against Trump allies.
The Trump administration fired Roger Rogoff, a career prosecutor unanimously selected by a panel of federal judges to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, less than an hour after he was sworn in. The firing was carried out by Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—Trump's former criminal defense lawyer—whose own confirmation hearings have been dogged by ethics concerns over conflicts of interest. This move signals that the DOJ will not tolerate any U.S. Attorney perceived as independent from the president's political agenda, particularly in a district that has handled high-profile cases against Trump allies and January 6 defendants.
By firing a judge-appointed U.S. Attorney before he could even start work, the administration has effectively seized control of federal prosecutorial discretion in Washington state. The action denies the Western District of Washington a leader chosen by the judiciary for his competence and impartiality, replacing him with an interim appointee loyal to the president. Local communities, including Seattle, Tacoma, and rural areas, rely on a U.S. Attorney who can prosecute federal crimes without fear of political retribution. This firing erodes public trust and signals that career prosecutors who do not align with the White House will be purged.
The humanitarian alternative
Congress should amend the Vacancies Reform Act to require that any interim U.S. Attorney serving longer than 120 days must be confirmed by the Senate, and should strengthen judicial appointment authority when the president fails to nominate a qualified candidate. Additionally, the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold hearings on the politicization of U.S. Attorney firings, and the Department of Justice should adopt a formal policy—enforceable by an independent ethics office—prohibiting the removal of a U.S. Attorney except for cause, with written justification provided to Congress.
Falsifiable predictions
What this entry claims will happen, and what data would prove it wrong. The Reckoner revisits these against current reality.
- Within 90 days, the Western District of Washington will see a significant increase in prosecutions of immigration-related offenses and a decrease in the charging of public corruption cases.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct at least one hearing on the politicization of U.S. Attorney appointments within six months.
Grounded in
Original source — excerpted
news Trump Admin Cans Seattle Prosecutor Less than an Hour After His Swearing-In"The Department of Justice (DOJ) fired U.S. Attorney for western Washington State Roger Rogoff Wednesday less than an hour after he was unanimously appointed by ..."