Chicago – July 16, 2026
President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed the newly court-appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington less than an hour after his appointment, intensifying a growing dispute between the White House and the federal judiciary over prosecutorial appointments.
Roger Rogoff, a former state judge and veteran federal prosecutor, had been unanimously selected by the district’s federal judges after the previous interim U.S. attorney’s term expired. Shortly after being sworn in, Rogoff received notification from the administration that he had been removed from office.
The White House argued that the president has constitutional authority to appoint and remove U.S. attorneys, while critics questioned whether the dismissal undermined the judiciary’s statutory role in filling vacancies. Rogoff said he is considering legal action, raising the prospect of a significant court battle over presidential removal powers. Democratic leaders condemned the move as politically motivated, while the Justice Department defended the decision as consistent with executive authority.
