Trump fires newly appointed Seattle U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff

Trump fires newly appointed Seattle U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff

President Donald Trump dismissed the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington less than an hour after the official was sworn into office on Tuesday. Roger Rogoff, a former federal prosecutor and former King County Superior Court judge, was appointed to the position by federal judges.

The removal occurred 54 minutes after Rogoff was legally appointed, according to the Seattle Times. Rogoff reported that he received his dismissal via an email titled A Message From the President.

"It basically said, 'I'm informing you that pursuant to his authority, President Trump is hereby removing you from the office of the United States attorney,'"

Roger Rogoff, former U.S. Attorney, via KOMO News

Rogoff, who also previously served as the director of Washington's Office of Independent Investigations, stated he had anticipated the outcome. He noted that for two weeks prior to the appointment, the administration had not responded to attempts at communication despite knowing he would be selected.

The Department of Justice defended the move by citing a post on X from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche asserted that while district court judges possess the power to appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, the president's authority to fire them overrides that power. Blanche claimed the judges in the Western District of Washington had abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration to ensure the appointee was qualified to serve in the current administration.

Rogoff challenged the lawfulness of the firing, arguing that it is inappropriate to summarily dismiss someone appointed constitutionally and statutorily without an examination or conversation regarding their intentions for the office.

"Roger Rogoff's is eminently qualified—throughout his career, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service, and he was appointed legally by the federal judges in the Western District of Washington. He should have never been fired, but the President wants to appoint an out-of-touch extremist who will put Trump over the rule of law,"

Statement via yahoo.com

The statement further alleged that the administration seeks to install cronies to execute a corrupt political agenda rather than adhering to advice and consent, describing the desired appointee as a Trump administration sock puppet.

Rogoff told KOMO News that the office had been without a constitutionally appointed U.S. Attorney for three years, relying instead on interim or acting officials. He framed the conflict as a matter of the rule of law, stating he would support the appointment of someone confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

When asked about his brief tenure, Rogoff described the experience as the Greatest hour in my life and expressed kinship with the lawyers working in the Western District of Washington.

A spokesperson with the clerk of court's office stated that the federal judges who appointed Rogoff could not comment on the matter. Rogoff indicated he intends to take legal action to determine whether the White House or federal judges hold the final authority in U.S. Attorney appointments.