Judge Restores Seattle U.S. Attorney

A federal judge ruled that President Trump cannot unilaterally fire a U.S. attorney appointed by a district court. The ruling reinstated Roger Rogoff as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington after Trump fired him minutes after he took office. Judge Bastian said the removal statute covers Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys, not court-appointed ones. Rogoff had been appointed in July after the president had not secured a Senate-confirmed replacement for the Seattle post. The dispute grew from administration efforts to keep favored prosecutors in office through interim appointments rather than Senate confirmation. The administration said it would appeal and seek an immediate halt. Bastian said nominee Simon Peter Serrano needs Senate confirmation first.