President Donald Trump is seriously considering appointing longtime ally and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, according to a source familiar with the matter. The potential nomination follows Trump’s decision to withdraw Ed Martin from consideration for the post. Martin, known for his ties to the “Stop the Steal” movement and Jan. 6 defendants, is set to conclude his tenure as acting U.S. attorney on May 20.
Pirro, a former judge and outspoken commentator, has been viewed by Trump as “highly qualified” for the role. While no final decision has been made, an official announcement could come as early as this week. The White House has yet to confirm or comment on the potential appointment.
Pirro gained national attention for her vocal support of Trump and her on-air statements challenging the outcome of the 2020 election. Her comments led to scrutiny during Dominion Voting Systems’ high-profile defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which ended in a $787.5 million settlement. An internal communication revealed that one of Pirro’s executive producers described her post-election monologue as “completely crazy.”
Trump’s earlier pick, Ed Martin, faced resistance from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina publicly opposed Martin’s nomination due to his associations with individuals connected to the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. Though Pirro was not as directly tied to Capitol rioters, she amplified narratives that fueled public distrust in the election process.
In a broadcast just days before January 6, Pirro invoked the spirit of the Revolutionary War and suggested that opposing the certification of the 2020 election results was a moment of patriotic duty. However, after the riot, Pirro condemned the violence, calling the events “deplorable” and “outright criminal,” urging Americans to objectively denounce what had occurred.
If appointed, Pirro would temporarily oversee federal prosecutions in the nation’s capital, a post with significant jurisdiction over politically sensitive cases. Her potential elevation to this high-profile position is expected to draw both praise and criticism across political lines, highlighting the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to place loyal figures in key legal and governmental roles.
