In a significant move on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Jeanine Pirro, a prominent host on Fox News and a former county prosecutor, to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. This decision comes after Trump withdrew his previous nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the role, citing concerns over partisanship.
Jeanine Pirro has been a well-known figure in the legal and media arenas since joining Fox News in 2006. Currently, she co-hosts the network’s popular show, “The Five,” which airs on weekday evenings. Her legal career began in 1990 when she was elected as a judge in New York’s Westchester County Court. Pirro later served three terms as the county's elected district attorney, establishing herself as one of the top district attorneys in New York's history.
Trump’s announcement came via a post on Truth Social, where he declared Pirro would serve as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. However, he did not confirm whether he intended to nominate her permanently for the Senate-confirmed position. In his post, Trump praised Pirro’s qualifications, stating, “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.”
Trump's decision to appoint Pirro follows the withdrawal of Ed Martin from consideration. This move occurred after a key Republican senator voiced opposition to Martin's nomination due to his defense of the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump acknowledged that Martin was not receiving the necessary support, stating, “He’s a terrific person, and he wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought.”
Martin has served as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump took office in January 2017. However, his tenure has been marred by controversy, including his lack of prior prosecutorial experience and various criticisms regarding his management style. During his brief time in office, Martin faced backlash for demoting and firing subordinates involved in politically sensitive cases, as well as for posting about potential investigation targets on social media.
In stark contrast to Martin, Jeanine Pirro possesses a wealth of courtroom experience. A graduate of Albany Law School in 1975, she led one of the nation’s first domestic violence units in a prosecutor’s office. After her tenure as a judge and district attorney, Pirro briefly campaigned for the Republican nomination to challenge then-Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2005, before switching her focus to run for New York attorney general in 2006, a race she ultimately lost to Andrew Cuomo.
Throughout her career, Pirro has been a familiar face in media, particularly during high-profile events such as the O.J. Simpson murder trial, where she frequently appeared on CNN’s “Larry King Live.” In her role at Fox News, she has often interviewed Trump and has been part of several controversies, including a lawsuit filed by voting technology company Smartmatic USA in 2021. The lawsuit alleges that Pirro and others spread false claims regarding the company’s involvement in “stealing” the 2020 presidential election from Trump, seeking $2.7 billion in damages.
As Pirro steps into her new role, many are watching closely to see how her legal expertise and media background will influence her tenure as the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.
