Topline
President Donald Trump selected Fox News Host and former New York prosecutor Jeanine Pirro to take over as Washington, D.C.’s, interim U.S. attorney, replacing Ed Martin in the role.
Key Facts
Trump announced his pick in a Truth Social post, saying Pirro will be appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.
Martin, who has been the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. since January, may serve in another role at the Justice Department, according to Trump.
Trump told reporters Thursday that Martin is a “terrific person” but “wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” adding, “I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day, but we have somebody else that will be great.”
The White House and Fox News did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
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Who Is Jeanine Pirro?
Pirro, 73, is a co-host on Fox News’ “The Five” and a former judge and district attorney for Westchester County. The former prosecutor has supported Trump’s presidential campaigns and pushed false allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Pirro, alongside Fox News anchors Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo, was sued by voting company Smartmatic in 2021. Pirro was accused of engaging “in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about Smartmatic” by pushing fraud claims about its machines. The lawsuit is still in litigation. Pirro was also named in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which was settled for $787.5 million.
Tangent
Pirro’s ex-husband, Albert, was pardoned by Trump in 2021, decades after he was convicted of 34 counts of conspiracy and tax evasion.
Key Background
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. is a unique and important post, acting as the local and federal prosecutor for the capital city. In addition to smaller local cases, the office handles cases linked to national security and represents the U.S. in federal court. It also has over 350 prosecutors on staff, according to The Washington Post.
Further Reading
Fox producer’s warning against Jeanine Pirro surfaces in Dominion defamation suit (NPR)
Why Fox News’ Next Defamation Suit—From Smartmatic—Might Require Another ‘Big Check’ To Settle (Forbes)