President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Judge Jeanine Pirro will serve as the interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The appointment comes as part of a series of leadership changes within the Justice Department.
Pirro, a longtime television personality and legal analyst, officially departs Fox News following a 14-year tenure.
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Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, where he praised her legal background and experience as a prosecutor in 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.
“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”
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Pirro leaves her co-hosting role on Fox News Channel’s top-rated program The Five, where she has appeared regularly for the past three years.
A spokesperson for FOX News Media confirmed her departure and offered praise for her contributions to the network.
“Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington,” the spokesperson said.
Pirro began her legal career in Westchester County, New York, where she served as assistant district attorney and later became the first female judge in the county court’s history.
She went on to serve as the elected district attorney in the same county, earning a reputation for her tough-on-crime approach.
Pirro joined Fox News in 2006 and launched the show Justice with Judge Jeanine, which aired for 11 years before she transitioned to The Five.
Her departure leaves a vacancy on the panel, which will be filled temporarily by rotating Fox News personalities until a permanent replacement is named.
In a related announcement, President Trump revealed that Ed Martin, who had been serving as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, will take on new responsibilities within the Department of Justice.
Martin has been appointed as the Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney.
“In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims. Congratulations Ed!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump had previously nominated Martin to serve as the permanent U.S. Attorney for D.C., but withdrew the nomination after it became clear he lacked sufficient support on Capitol Hill.
“He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday.
“You know, he’s done a very good job. Crime is down 25% in DC during this period of time… I can only lift that little phone so many times of the day. But we have somebody else.”
Trump says it’s “disappointing” that Sen. Thom Tillis said he won’t vote to confirm Ed Martin for DC’s top prosecutor. pic.twitter.com/abktxpPegG
— Jeff Charles, The Nullifier🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) May 7, 2025
The decision to replace Martin with Pirro also aligns with a looming procedural deadline.
Under Justice Department rules, if the Senate fails to confirm a nominee for U.S. Attorney within 120 days, the authority to appoint an interim U.S. Attorney may pass to federal district court judges.
Martin, a former defense attorney and “Stop the Steal” organizer, faced significant opposition from members of the Senate.
Pirro’s appointment takes effect immediately as she steps into one of the most visible and high-pressure prosecutorial roles in the country.
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