Trump names Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as interim top federal prosecutor in Washington after dropping Ed Martin

US president Donald Trump on Thursday named Fox News hostJeanine Pirro as the interim top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., changing his unique choose, Ed Martin Jr., whose nomination confronted heavy opposition. The announcement was made on Trump’s Truth Social account, the place he praised Pirro as “incredibly well qualified” and “one of the top district attorneys” in New York’s historical past.

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Pirro, a former decide and three-term district legal professional in Westchester County, New York, joined Fox News in 2006 and now co-hosts “The Five.” Her appointment follows a sample of Trump tapping Fox News figures for senior posts — together with Pete Hegseth, now Defence Secretary. Trump pulled Martin’s nomination earlier in the day after Republican senators raised issues about his defence of Capitol rioters and lack of authorized expertise. Martin, who had by no means prosecuted a case earlier than, drew criticism throughout his transient tenure for controversial workers modifications and social media posts. Pirro’s authorized background stands in distinction. A 1975 Albany Law School graduate, she helped set up one of many nation’s first home violence prosecution models. She additionally ran unsuccessfully for New York legal professional common in 2006 after briefly making an attempt to problem then-Senator Hillary Clinton. While Pirro’s media profession has included public assist for Trump, it has additionally introduced authorized hassle. In 2021, she was named in a $2.7 billion defamation swimsuit by Smartmatic for spreading false claims concerning the 2020 election.