The Trump administration fired a newly sworn-in U.S.attorney just 54 minutes into his tenure.Now, in what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind, he is fighting back.Roger Rogoff was appointed to serve as the U.S.
attorney for the Western District of Washington last week after a panel of district court judges, among them Democratic and Republican appointees, unanimously decided that he should fill the vacant role.The Trump administration fired him just 54 minutes after he was sworn in, prompting Rogoff to file a lawsuit alleging that the Trump administration lacked the authority to remove him.TRUMP ADMIN FIRES US ATTORNEY IN SEATTLE MINUTES AFTER HE WAS APPOINTEDActing Attorney General Todd Blanche appears at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 15, 2026.
(Eric Lee/Getty Images)The legal challenge sets up a novel test of presidential power over court-appointed U.S.attorneys, pitting the Trump administration’s claim of broad removal authority against a federal law Rogoff says allows him to serve until a Senate-confirmed successor takes office.
The outcome could determine whether presidents may dismiss judicially selected prosecutors at will — and potentially leave key offices under temporary leadership without seeking Senate approval.Rogoff argues that, while the law allows the Department of Justice to appoint an interim U.S.attorney for 120 days, after that period has expired, the local district court retains the right to appoint a replacement "until the vacancy is filled," meaning that he can’t be fired until a permanent replacement is approved by the Senate.Allowing the president to immediately remove any court-appointed U.S.
attorney he opposed, according to Rogoff, would permit an administration to circumvent the Senate-confirmation process indefinitely."The district court did not coordinate with DOJ on this selection," a spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital of the ...