Roger Rogoff was fired by President Trump less than an hour after federal judges swore him in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. The dismissal took place through an email while Rogoff was still inside the federal courthouse.
Who Is Roger Rogoff
Roger Rogoff spent 20 years as a state prosecutor and six years as a federal prosecutor before becoming a state judge, according to Fox News. He served as a King County prosecutor for 14 years, worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle for six years, and later became a King County Superior Court judge for seven years, as reported by King5. He also led the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations from May 2022 until February.
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How He Was Appointed
Seventeen active and senior federal judges in the Western District of Washington unanimously appointed Rogoff to the position, according to The Hill. This came after a U.S. appeals court panel raised doubts about a separate move by the Trump administration to keep its own pick in place. Rogoff was sworn in shortly before 8 a.m. Pacific time at the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle, as reported by The Hill.
What Happened After The Swearing In
Rogoff went to the U.S. Attorney’s Office after being sworn in and asked to meet with Charles Neil Floyd, the administration’s preferred choice for the role, according to CNN. While Rogoff waited in the lobby, he received an email notifying him that President Trump had removed him from office. Rogoff described the email as being titled “A Message From the President,” according to KOMO News.
What The Termination Email Said
Rogoff recalled the message informing him that, under the president’s authority, he was being removed from the office of United States attorney, according to KOMO News. He said the firing came without any conversation, meeting, or explanation of his qualifications or plans for the role. Rogoff said he reached out to the administration for clarification but did not receive a response, as reported by King5.
Why The Administration Fired Him
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the firing in a post on social media, stating that district court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. attorney, but the president can remove them, according to The Hill. Blanche said the judges in the district had abandoned the standard practice of consulting with the administration before selecting a nominee. Charles Neil Floyd, whose 120-day interim term had expired in February, remained the administration’s preferred candidate for the post, according to CNN.
Political Reaction To The Firing
Senator Patty Murray of Washington called Rogoff “eminently qualified” and said he was appointed legally by the district’s federal judges, according to CBS News. She accused the Trump administration of trying to bypass the Senate’s advice-and-consent role to install political allies rather than qualified officials. Murray said the people of Washington deserve someone who will enforce the law fairly, not what she called a “Trump administration sock puppet,” as reported by CBS News.
How This Fits A Larger Pattern
Rogoff’s firing follows similar disputes over U.S. attorney appointments in other states. In New Jersey, Alina Habba resigned after an appeals court ruled she had been serving unlawfully, according to Fox News. In Virginia, Lindsey Halligan left her post after a judge found her appointment unlawful and dismissed related criminal cases, as reported by Fox News. Federal judges in several other districts are reviewing the legality of similar appointments made by the Trump administration, according to CBS News.
What Rogoff Plans To Do Next
Rogoff has retained an employment law firm and is considering a legal challenge against his removal, according to Fox News. He told CNN he is consulting with other lawyers about suing over the firing. When asked about serving as U.S. attorney for less than an hour, Rogoff told KOMO News it was the “greatest hour” of his life.
FAQ: Roger Rogoff Trump Administration Dismissal
Q: What is the Roger Rogoff Trump administration dismissal?
The Roger Rogoff Trump administration dismissal refers to President Trump firing Roger Rogoff as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington less than an hour after federal judges swore him into the role. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the firing on X shortly after Rogoff’s appointment.
Q: Who is Roger Rogoff?
Q: Why was Roger Rogoff appointed in the first place?
All 17 active and senior federal judges in the district appointed Rogoff to the vacancy after the administration did not send Charles Neil Floyd’s nomination to the Senate and instead kept him in place as first assistant. The judges highlighted his deep ties to the region and career of public service.
Q: Why did Trump fire Roger Rogoff so quickly?
According to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the judges in the Western District of Washington failed to consult with the administration before selecting Rogoff, breaking what he called a “time-honored process” that ensures the person selected is “qualified to serve in the administration.” Blanche argued that district court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. attorney, but the president can fire them.
Q: How did Roger Rogoff find out he was fired?
Q: What was Roger Rogoff’s reaction to being fired?
Q: Is Roger Rogoff planning legal action over his dismissal?
Q: How have politicians reacted to the dismissal?
Q: Has this happened with other U.S. attorneys under Trump?
Yes. In New Jersey, Alina Habba resigned as the top federal prosecutor after an appeals court said she had been serving unlawfully. In Virginia, Lindsey Halligan left an acting U.S. attorney post after a judge found her appointment unlawful and dismissed indictments she had brought against high-profile figures.
