Trump Appoints Jeanine Pirro as Interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.

U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Fox News host and former New York prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.

The decision follows the withdrawal of Trump’s previous nominee, Ed Martin, after he lost critical Republican support in the Senate, which must confirm permanent appointments. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a key swing vote, announced he would oppose Martin’s confirmation due to concerns over his views on the January 6 Capitol riot.

Pirro, 73, is a longtime Trump ally and a former Republican district attorney in Westchester County, New York. She also served as a judge and has been a prominent figure on Fox News, with Trump highlighting her appearances on what he called "one of the highest-rated shows on television" in a post on Truth Social.

In the announcement, Trump praised Pirro as “a powerful crusader for victims of crime,” but did not specify whether she would be nominated for the role permanently or how long she would serve in the interim capacity.

Pirro has previously drawn controversy for her false claims about the 2020 election, which were cited in a defamation lawsuit against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems. The case was settled for over $787 million.

Trump also noted in his post that Pirro’s husband received a presidential pardon in the final days of Trump’s first term, following a decades-old tax evasion conviction.

Pirro replaces Ed Martin, a former conservative podcaster who was appointed as interim U.S. Attorney in January. While serving in the role, Martin drew criticism for firing prosecutors overseeing cases related to the Capitol riot and for his vocal opposition to the investigation. Trump has announced that Martin will remain at the Department of Justice as director of the newly created “weaponization working group,” tasked with investigating officials involved in previous probes of the president.

Since returning to office, Trump has pardoned and dismissed cases against several individuals involved in the January 6 attack, which aimed to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election
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