Full Breakdown
Trump Fires Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff Hours After Swearing-In
7/16/2026, 9:38:15 PM
Core Event
On a Wednesday in July 2026, Roger Rogoff was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington at about 8 a.m. PDT in downtown Seattle. Within 54 minutes, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that President Donald Trump had terminated Rogoff’s appointment. The firing occurred after a unanimous order from 17 federal judges in the district installed Rogoff as the top federal prosecutor.
Background & Context
Federal law allows the attorney general to name an interim U.S. attorney for up to 120 days. When that term expires, a district court may appoint a U.S. attorney until the president’s nominee is confirmed by the Senate. In February 2026, the 120-day term of interim appointee Charles Neil Floyd ended. Floyd, a former immigration judge, had been kept on as “first assistant” U.S. attorney, a maneuver the administration has used in other districts to sidestep Senate confirmation.
Key Figures
- Roger Rogoff – former King County Superior Court judge and veteran federal prosecutor.
- Todd Blanche – Acting U.S. Attorney General, former Trump defense attorney.
- Patty Murray – senior U.S. senator from Washington (D-WA).
- Charles Neil Floyd – former interim U.S. attorney, now first assistant.
- 17 district judges – issued the unanimous appointment order.
Timeline
- October 2025 – Trump names Floyd interim U.S. attorney.
- February 3 2026 – Floyd’s 120-day interim term expires.
- January 2026 – Judges announce authority to appoint a replacement.
- July 15 2026 (Wednesday) – Rogoff sworn in (~8 a.m.); fired ~54 minutes later.
Data & Statistics
- 17 active and senior judges participated in the appointment.
- Rogoff’s tenure lasted 54 minutes.
- The Western District of Washington has had no Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since mid-2023.
Why It Matters
The episode spotlights a growing clash between the executive branch and federal courts over who may fill vacant U.S. attorney posts. Critics argue the president’s rapid dismissal undermines the “advice and consent” role of the Senate and threatens prosecutorial independence. The administration contends that the president retains constitutional authority to remove any U.S. attorney.
Official Statements & Responses
Acting Attorney General Blanche posted on X that district judges “abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration” and reiterated that “District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them.”
Senator Murray issued a written statement calling Rogoff “eminently qualified” and accusing the administration of seeking to “install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda.”
The 17-judge panel highlighted Rogoff’s “deep ties” to the region and his career-long service as a prosecutor and judge.
Criticism & Opposition
Murray’s criticism frames the firing as a breach of constitutional norms and an attempt to sideline the Senate’s role. Legal scholars and advocacy groups have noted similar disputes in Virginia, New York, Nevada and New Jersey, where courts have questioned the legality of the administration’s personnel tactics.
On-the-Ground Reports
Rogoff told the Associated Press he was “really proud of my career” and that the judges’ confidence was “humbling and amazing.” He said he is consulting lawyers about possible legal action, emphasizing that “the rule of law requires that prosecutorial decisions remain free from political interference.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A federal appeals-court panel in May expressed skepticism that the administration’s maneuver of re-designating Floyd was legal, but no definitive ruling has been issued on Rogoff’s dismissal. The Justice Department has not announced a new nominee for the Seattle office.
Verbatim Quotes
- “District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them. WDWA judges abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration so that the selected U.S. Attorney is qualified to serve in the administration,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General
- “Roger Rogoff has been fired by the President.” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General
- “Roger Rogoff is eminently qualified — throughout his career, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service, and he was appointed legally by the federal judges in the Western District of Washington,” — Patty Murray, U.S. Senator
- “This administration doesn’t want to deal with advice and consent—they just want to install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda.” — Patty Murray, U.S. Senator
- “The fact that the judges of this district — most of whom I've spent my career appearing in front of, or trying cases against, or working with — believed that I was the right person to do this work is just really humbling and amazing.” — Roger Rogoff
What’s Next
Rogoff’s legal team is preparing a federal lawsuit challenging the termination. The Justice Department has not named a replacement, leaving the Western District of Washington without a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney.
