Former President Donald Trump has made a high-profile appointment that’s stirring up fresh controversy in Washington.
On Thursday, Trump announced that Fox News personality and former judge Jeanine Pirro will serve as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Pirro is currently a co-host on the network’s talk show The Five and previously served as a district attorney in Westchester County, New York.
“I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position and is considered one of the top District Attorneys in New York’s history. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”
Fox News responded shortly after the news broke:
“Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media. She has contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington,” a spokesperson said.
A Vacancy with Political Baggage
Pirro’s appointment comes after Republican Senator Thom Tillis blocked the confirmation of Trump’s previous nominee for the role, conservative activist Ed Martin. Tillis said he couldn’t support Martin due to concerns related to the January 6 Capitol riot.
“Most of my concerns relate to Jan. 6,” Tillis told CNN’s Manu Raju. “I think anyone who breached the Capitol perimeter should have been imprisoned for some period of time—whether that’s 30 days or three years is debatable, but I have no tolerance for anyone who entered the building.”
Tillis also expressed concern that Martin believed some January 6 defendants were overcharged.
“Mr. Martin made the case that some people were over-prosecuted—and he may be right about that—but I believe 200 or 300 of them should never have been pardoned. If this were any other U.S. Attorney district, I might have supported him. But not for D.C., not where the riot took place.”
Confirmation Process Falls Apart
With Tillis opposing the nomination and Democrats already signaling they would vote “no,” Martin’s confirmation was effectively dead. The Senate Judiciary Committee, currently split 12–10 in favor of Republicans, would have ended in a tie without Tillis’s support—halting the process.
Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, confirmed the nomination would not move forward.
“The decision was made last night not to proceed with the background investigation,” Durbin said. “Legally, Martin remains interim U.S. Attorney until around May 20 or 21. After that, the district court judge has the authority to fill the vacancy.”
“The writing’s on the wall—he has problems within his own party,” Durbin added.
Trump Defends Martin
Despite the collapse of Martin’s nomination, Trump remained publicly supportive.
“According to many, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ed Martin’s appointment is imperative to saving lives and making America healthy again,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This is his passion—more so than almost anyone I’ve seen.”
“We’re going to take our country back—and fast. Ed Martin will play a big role in that, and I hope Republican Senators will commit to confirming him.”
What’s Next?
While Jeanine Pirro’s appointment is interim, her selection has reignited partisan debate. As a longtime conservative media figure and former prosecutor, Pirro brings both legal experience and a prominent public profile to the role—something critics say makes the appointment more political than procedural.
Still, Trump’s base is likely to see it as another step in reclaiming influence in Washington, while Democrats are already bracing for legal and political fights ahead.
