President Trump has named Fox News host and former prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the new interim U.S. attorney for D.C. His last pick, Ed Martin, was marred by controversies since the day he took office in January.
Trump finally pulled his nomination after Martin lost Republican support in the Senate last week due to his long-time support of the Jan. 6 riot. Martin may have been the most controversial appointee in memory. But will Pirro, a bomb-throwing Fox News personality, be a better fit for D.C.?
Back It Up, Who Is Pirro?
Trump has touted Pirro, 73, as “incredibly well qualified” and a “powerful crusader for victims of crime.” She previously served as a Republican district attorney in Westchester, New York, as well as a judge back in the ‘90s.
Since 2006, Pirro has worked at Fox News, where she had been a staunch Trump loyalist. She spent months protesting the legitimacy of former President Biden's election in 2020 and was even sued for broadcasting false claims about ballot tabulations. She did condemn the Jan. 6 riot, however, three days after it happened.
Trump and Pirro have long regarded each other as friends, with Trump even pardoning Pirro’s then-husband in the last hours of his first term.
Jeanine Pirro on her former daily show Fox News' "The Five." (John Lamparski / Getty Images)
How Would She Impact DC?
Pirro has spoken out against sanctuary cities and LGBTQ curriculums. She has said she can’t stand the smell of weed and that its open use implies we’re “turning into a third world country.”
But whether or not she will, or even can, act on these ideas is unclear. The U.S. attorney for D.C.’s office holds a wide scope of responsibilities including prosecuting white collar crime and national security investigations, which could take precedence.
Is Pirro’s Appointment Even Legal?
A lot of questions remain about Pirro’s nomination, the primary one being, can Trump even legally appoint her? The president can appoint an interim U.S. attorney for 120 days, but if the term expires, the federal court appoints its own choice. Trump is acting like his bait-and-switch rewinds the clock to zero, but it’s not clear if the law works that way. Legal challenges are almost certainly on the horizon.
Additionally, if it is legal, will Pirro even accept the position? It would be a significant pay cut from her glamorous Fox News job, and she’d be trading in celebrity status for an on-the ground prosecutor position, a role she hasn’t held in over two decades. We’ll be watching.
