Trump administration ousts Seattle US attorney 54 minutes into job
What's new: Federal judges had unanimously picked Roger Rogoff to fill a vacancy the president had not addressed, setting up a legal fight.
The Trump administration removed Roger Rogoff less than an hour after federal judges appointed him to lead the US attorney’s office in Seattle, escalating a fight over who can fill vacancies in the Justice Department. Judges in the Western District of Washington unanimously selected Rogoff on July 15 after the presidency left the post open. He was dismissed by email 54 minutes later. The clash reflects a broader standoff between the administration and federal courts, as judges have tried to install interim prosecutors in offices still lacking permanent leadership. Rogoff’s rapid firing is likely to trigger a legal battle over the judges’ appointment power and the administration’s authority to reject it.