President Donald Trump fired newly appointed federal prosecutor Roger Rogoff on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, less than an hour after district judges unanimously selected him as the top prosecutor in Seattle, according to The Guardian.
Rogoff, a former judge and veteran prosecutor, was sworn in as the US Attorney for the Western District of Washington at 8 a.
m. at the Seattle federal courthouse.
Shortly after, he received an email notifying him of his removal.
White House Defends Decision
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the administration's decision, asserting the executive branch's authority to dismiss court-appointed prosecutors.
He criticized the judges for bypassing typical consultation procedures.
"District court judges can appoint a temporary US attorney, and [the president] can fire them," Blanche said in a social media post.
He argued that the local judiciary had "abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration."
The federal judges initiated an independent selection process after the 120-day interim term of Trump's previous appointee, Charles Neil Floyd, expired in February.
The administration kept Floyd in office by changing his title.
Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat who previously opposed Floyd's placement, strongly condemned the dismissal.
"Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service, and he was appointed legally by the federal judges," she said.
Murray accused the White House of bypassing constitutional checks and balances to secure loyalists in key prosecutorial positions.
"This administration doesn’t want to deal with advice and consent – they just want to install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda," she said.
The dispute reflects a broader national pattern, following similar dismissals of court-appointed US Attorneys in Virginia and northern New York after previous temporary appointments were legally challenged.
Despite his abrupt removal, Rogoff expressed no regrets about accepting the appointment. "I’m really proud of my career," he said.
Rogoff is now consulting with attorneys regarding a potential lawsuit over his termination.
"The fact that the judges of this district – most of whom I’ve spent my career appearing in front of, or trying cases against, or working with – believed that I was the right person to do this work is just really humbling and amazing," Rogoff said.
