Trump Appoints Jeanine Pirro Interim D.C. Prosecutor \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Trump has appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., replacing conservative activist Ed Martin Jr., whose nomination was withdrawn amid bipartisan opposition and controversy.
Quick Looks
- Jeanine Pirro tapped as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.
- Trump withdrew his previous nominee, Ed Martin Jr., after backlash.
- Pirro is a former New York judge and district attorney.
- Trump praised Pirro as one of the state’s top prosecutors.
- Martin’s tenure drew criticism over political interference and inexperience.
- Pirro becomes the latest Fox News figure to join Trump’s administration.
- Her legal and media career spans decades, including high-profile trials.
- She has faced controversy, including a defamation lawsuit by Smartmatic.
Deep Look
In a move drawing both praise and scrutiny, President Donald Trump on Thursday named Jeanine Pirro, a longtime Fox News host and former New York prosecutor, as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The decision followed Trump’s abrupt withdrawal of his prior nominee, Ed Martin Jr., whose candidacy collapsed amid growing bipartisan opposition and questions over his credentials.
The appointment of Pirro, a prominent conservative commentator and former elected judge, places her at the helm of the most influential U.S. Attorney’s office in the country—one often tasked with handling sensitive political and national security cases, including those involving public officials and federal policy.
Trump Shifts Strategy After Backlash Over Martin
Trump’s original pick, Ed Martin Jr., faced mounting resistance from lawmakers and legal experts, particularly after revelations about his lack of prosecutorial experience and controversial actions during his brief tenure as acting U.S. Attorney. Martin had never tried a case in court, and his time in the role was marked by politicized investigations, social media outbursts, and alleged retaliation against career prosecutors.
He drew sharp criticism for targeting Democratic policy programs and for defending individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, leading one key Republican senator to announce he would not support Martin’s nomination.
Faced with eroding support, Trump pulled Martin’s name from consideration Thursday morning, telling reporters, “He’s a terrific person, and he wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought… But we have somebody else that will be great.”
Jeanine Pirro: Courtroom Veteran and Media Powerhouse
Pirro, 72, brings a lengthier legal resume to the position. A graduate of Albany Law School, she was elected as a judge in New York’s Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as district attorney. Notably, she launched one of the nation’s first domestic violence prosecution units, earning national recognition for her progressive prosecutorial approach in the 1990s.
Her profile expanded beyond the courtroom during the O.J. Simpson murder trial, where she became a regular legal analyst on CNN’s “Larry King Live.” By 2006, she joined Fox News, where she has since become a staple of conservative commentary. She now co-hosts “The Five,” one of Fox’s most-watched evening programs.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, praised Pirro as “incredibly well qualified” and “one of the top District Attorneys in the history of the State of New York.”
It remains unclear whether Trump intends to nominate Pirro for the permanent, Senate-confirmed role or if she will simply lead the office in an acting capacity until a full nomination is settled.
From Political Ambitions to Presidential Ally
Pirro’s career has long intersected with national politics. In 2005, she briefly campaigned to unseat then-Senator Hillary Clinton, before pivoting to a run for New York Attorney General, which she lost to Andrew Cuomo.
Her political ties to Trump have grown especially strong in recent years. During his first term, Pirro conducted multiple sympathetic interviews with the president and became a frequent defender of Trump’s policies on-air. In a personal gesture, Trump even pardoned Pirro’s ex-husband, Albert Pirro, during his final hours in office. Albert Pirro had been convicted in 2000 for tax evasion and conspiracy.
Legal Controversies and Ongoing Litigation
Pirro’s public record isn’t without controversy. In 2021, she was named in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic USA, a voting technology company. The suit accuses Pirro, Fox News, and other network personalities of spreading false claims that Smartmatic helped “steal” the 2020 election from Trump.
That lawsuit is still pending and remains one of the most high-profile media defamation cases in recent years, posing both legal and reputational challenges for Fox News and its commentators.
A Broader Pattern: Fox to Federal Office
Pirro’s appointment is the latest in a string of Trump administration decisions to elevate Fox News figures to powerful roles. Notably, Pete Hegseth, former co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” was appointed as Defense Secretary, cementing a trend of media figures moving directly into public office under Trump.
With Pirro now leading the largest U.S. Attorney’s office, many observers see the appointment as both a nod to loyalty and a continuation of Trump’s effort to reshape the federal bureaucracy around political allies.
Trump Appoints Jeanine
