Trump Dismisses Newly Sworn Seattle US Attorney Within Minutes
WHO:
CNN - Roger Rogoff stated he is consulting with other lawyers about suing over his firing.
CNN - Todd Blanche is the Acting U.S. Attorney General.
CNN - Roger Rogoff is a former judge and veteran state and federal prosecutor.
CNN - Todd Blanche is the Acting U.S. Attorney General.
CNN - President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff, the newly appointed US attorney for western Washington.
CNN - Charles Neil Floyd was the interim US attorney prior to Rogoff's appointment.
CNN - Todd Blanche is the Acting US Attorney General.
CNN - Democratic Washington Senator Patty Murray opposed Floyd's appointment.
WHAT:
CNN - Rogoff was appointed unanimously by federal judges in the district.
CNN - The court that appointed Rogoff comprised 17 active and senior judges appointed by five presidents.
CNN - Trump named Charles Neil Floyd interim US attorney last October but never forwarded his nomination to the Senate.
CNN - In May, a U.S. appeals court panel expressed skepticism that the maneuver of leaving unconfirmed prosecutors in their positions indefinitely was legal.
CNN - Rogoff stated, "Being U.S. attorney is the best job there is for a prosecutor."
CNN - Rogoff expressed that he was "really proud of my career" and found it "humbling and amazing" that the judges believed he was the right person for the job.
CNN - Rogoff received an email from the Trump administration informing him of his removal while he was waiting in a lobby to meet with Charles Neil Floyd.
CNN - Rogoff stated he is consulting with other lawyers about suing over his firing.
CNN - Trump dismissed Rogoff less than an hour after he was sworn in as US attorney.
CNN - Rogoff was appointed unanimously by federal judges in the district.
CNN - Rogoff stated he is consulting with other lawyers about suing over his firing.
NY Post - The Trump Justice Department dismissed Rogoff minutes after his swearing-in.
WHERE:
CNN - The swearing-in took place at the courthouse in downtown Seattle.
CNN - Rogoff was appointed as US attorney for western Washington.
WHEN:
CNN - Rogoff was sworn in before 8 a.m. on the day of his firing.
CNN - Floyd's interim term ended in February.
WHY:
CNN - Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray criticized the Trump administration for wanting to "install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda."
CNN - Democratic Washington Senator Patty Murray criticized the Trump administration for wanting to "install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda."
CNN - The firing highlights tensions between the courts and the Trump administration over the appointment of US attorneys.
CNN - Todd Blanche stated that the judges who appointed Rogoff "abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration."
HOW:
CNN - The judges in the city decided to take applications for the position and appointed a bipartisan panel to review the applications.
CNN - The court that appointed Rogoff comprised 17 active and senior judges appointed by five presidents.
CNN - Presidents typically appoint US attorneys, but the judges in a judicial district can name a US attorney when temporary appointments expire.
CNN - The Trump administration has sought to leave unconfirmed prosecutors in their positions indefinitely through novel personnel maneuvers.
(UPDATED July 16, 2026 22:20 UTC)
Roger Rogoff, who was unanimously appointed by a bipartisan panel of 17 judges from both parties, is now consulting with other lawyers about suing over his recent firing, while Todd Blanche serves as the Acting U.S. Attorney General. The judges who appointed Rogoff were selected by five different presidents, highlighting the diverse political landscape of the court. Democratic Senator Patty Murray has criticized the Trump administration for attempting to install cronies to push a corrupt political agenda.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 15:27 UTC)
Trump appointed Charles Neil Floyd as interim U.S. attorney last October but did not send his nomination to the Senate for confirmation. A U.S. appeals court panel raised concerns in May about the legality of keeping unconfirmed prosecutors in their roles indefinitely. Meanwhile, Rogoff shared his pride in his career and expressed how humbling it was to be recognized by judges as the right person for the job, stating that being U.S. attorney is the best position for a prosecutor.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 13:25 UTC)
Roger Rogoff, a veteran state and federal prosecutor, was informed of his removal from his position while waiting in a lobby to meet with Charles Neil Floyd, and he is now consulting with other lawyers about suing over his firing. Todd Blanche is currently serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney General, and Democratic Senator Patty Murray has criticized the Trump administration for attempting to "install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda." The court that appointed Rogoff included 17 active and senior judges who were appointed by five different presidents.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 12:23 UTC)
President Trump has dismissed Roger Rogoff as the US attorney for western Washington, just minutes after Rogoff was sworn in at the courthouse in downtown Seattle. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the courts and the Trump administration regarding the appointment process for US attorneys, with Todd Blanche criticizing the judges for not consulting with the administration. Rogoff, who was appointed unanimously by federal judges, is now considering legal action over his firing.