Acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Learns Fate Amid Senate Drama
On Saturday, the Senate confirmed Jeanine Pirro, who is President Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of top prosecutor in Washington, D.C. This confirmation was part of a limited set of approvals, as lawmakers were unable to finalize a broader agreement to advance many of the president’s pending nominations.
Pirro, a former judge and prosecutor from New York, as well as a host on Fox News, was one of over 150 nominees awaiting action from the Senate. Although Senate Republicans aimed to overcome the opposition from Democrats and approve a larger group of nominees over the weekend, negotiations fell apart at the last moment.
Ultimately, lawmakers managed to confirm only seven nominees before they adjourned until September.
Pirro received confirmation with a vote of 50-45 to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, a position she has been occupying on an interim basis since May, according to Fox News.
Prior to her appointment, Pirro dedicated over ten years to serving as the District Attorney for Westchester County, New York. Additionally, she held a judicial position in Westchester County during the early 1990s.
“Jeanine possesses exceptional qualifications for this role and is regarded as one of the foremost District Attorneys in the annals of New York State history,” Trump remarked upon nominating Pirro. “She stands in a league of her own.”
Pirro was not Trump’s first nominee for the position. His initial selection, Ed Martin, was unable to garner sufficient Republican backing earlier this year. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) effectively derailed Martin’s nomination due to apprehensions regarding his views on the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Senate Democrats reproached Pirro for endorsing Trump’s allegations of election fraud in 2020 and for her defense of him following the January 6 Capitol insurrection during her time as a host on Fox News.
They cautioned that, in her role as the leading prosecutor in Washington D.C., she would align closely with the president’s agenda, which is no different from the behavior of U.S. attorneys under Democratic administrations.
Last month, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Democrats orchestrated a walkout in protest against both Pirro and U.S. District Judge Emil Bove, who was narrowly confirmed earlier this week with a 50–49 vote. Subsequently, Pirro was advanced from the committee on a party-line vote.
Concerning Trump’s allegations of election fraud in 2020, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard strongly suggested last week that she had uncovered evidence that could ultimately exonerate the president.
In a discussion with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, she affirmed that the 2020 election had been compromised and that federal officials were cognizant of the existing vulnerabilities.