Trump Boots Newly Appointed US Attorney in Under an Hour

Roger Rogoff's stint as Seattle's top federal prosecutor lasted less time than a lunch break, and it may now set off a major legal fight. The New York Times reports that the Trump administration removed Rogoff by email just 54 minutes after federal judges in Washington state unanimously tapped the veteran lawyer to serve as US attorney, filling a leadership void the White House had left open. Rogoff tells the AP that he was sworn in just before 8am on Wednesday and was in the lobby of the US courthouse in downtown Seattle, waiting for a meeting after his appointment, when he received the email regarding his termination.

Rogoff has hired an employment law firm and is weighing a court challenge, per the Times. "We are working on legal action right now," Rogoff tells the Seattle Times. "The rule of law requires that prosecutorial decisions remain free from political interference, and that lawful judicial appointments be respected." The Justice Department said the judges acted without coordinating with Washington, per the New York Times. Acting AG Todd Blanche has said previously that any prosecutor chosen solely by the judiciary "will not remain in office."

Rogoff, 57, says he'd planned to carry out Trump administration priorities but criticized its reliance on acting and interim leaders instead of Senate-confirmed picks, calling the approach bad for morale and credibility, as well as unconstitutional. The clash follows a similar dispute in New Jersey and years of frustration from Washington state officials over what Attorney General Nick Brown described as a Casino-style shuffling of titles to avoid formal oversight. Legal experts say Rogoff's case faces long odds.