The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, filling a high-profile Justice Department position after President Donald Trump withdrew his initial nominee, conservative activist Ed Martin Jr.
Martin’s nomination sparked backlash from several Senate Republicans due to his public support for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. He has since been reassigned as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.
Why This Matters
The U.S. Attorney for D.C. holds a powerful and politically sensitive role, overseeing federal prosecutions in the nation’s capital — including politically charged and national security cases. Pirro’s appointment signals a significant shift from Martin, who lacked courtroom experience, to a seasoned legal figure. The confirmation also reflects internal GOP tensions around the events of January 6 and the qualifications of Trump’s appointees.
Details on the Confirmation
Pirro was confirmed in a 50–45 vote, largely split along party lines. A former New York judge and three-term district attorney in Westchester County, Pirro has decades of legal experience. She earned her law degree from Albany Law School in 1975.
Before stepping into the acting role earlier this year, Pirro was a co-host of Fox News’ “The Five” and a close ally of Trump. Her media career has drawn criticism, especially due to her role in spreading false claims about the 2020 election — claims that led to a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed by voting tech firm Smartmatic.
The confirmation process hit turbulence when Senate Democrats briefly walked out of a Judiciary Committee session to protest a separate judicial nominee. However, GOP members moved Pirro’s nomination forward unanimously.
Reaction
Pirro celebrated the confirmation on social media, writing:
“I am blessed to have received a Senate confirmation vote this evening of 50 to 45 to be the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, the largest United States Attorney’s Office in the country. Thank you to those senators who supported my confirmation and DC—get ready for a real crime fighter.”
At the swearing-in ceremony, Trump praised Pirro and said, “I would like to congratulate Jeanine and her entire family.”
Democratic lawmakers, however, sharply criticized the decision:
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): “Jeanine Pirro is deeply unqualified & unfit to be the United States Attorney for DC… She has made her mark spreading damaging, offensive conspiracy theories.”
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Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA): “A sad moment for the Senate and the country… Yes, the same Judge Jeanine that even Fox News said was ‘crazy’ and had to take off the air.”
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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): “She endorsed the firing of January 6 prosecutors and spread the Big Lie… Ultimately, she’s a rubber stamp for Donald Trump.”
What’s Next
Pirro now formally takes the helm of the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office. She will lead ongoing investigations and prosecutions, even as she remains under legal scrutiny for the Smartmatic defamation case tied to her 2020 election coverage.
Source: NEWSWEEK
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