Senate Moves Forward With Jeanine Pirro’s US Attorney Nomination

On Thursday, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Jeanine Pirro to serve permanently as the U.S. district attorney for the District of Columbia.

However, they proceeded without the presence of any Democrats on the committee, as all Democratic members exited when Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) initiated a vote on a group of judicial nominees.

Previously, Democrats had focused their efforts on the nomination of Emil Bove, who represented President Donald Trump in a criminal case in New York, for a position on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Bove has also held the role of acting deputy attorney general.

In May, Trump appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the acting U.S. attorney, marking her as the latest media figure to join his administration. Pirro was known for her strong defense of Trump on Fox’s highly-rated panel show “The Five.”

“Jeanine is exceptionally qualified for this role and is regarded as one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She stands out in her field,” Trump stated on Truth Social when announcing her appointment.

Nonetheless, there was never a genuine expectation that the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee would support Pirro’s nomination.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the ranking member, expressed on X on Wednesday that Pirro was “a January 6 apologist, siding with violent insurrectionists over law enforcement by supporting criminal charges against line prosecutors handling insurrection-related cases. She’s an election denialist, recklessly peddling President Trump’s Big Lie despite even her own Fox News producers and executives warning her to reel it in.”

He further cautioned that Pirro would be a “Trump loyalist, vengefully attacking his perceived political opponents and showing no willingness to prioritize the rule of law over the President’s desires.”

However, Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, stated that Pirro would primarily concentrate on crime reduction in the nation’s capital, as reported by Deadline.com.

This week, Pirro initiated legal action against three members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board, claiming they continue to serve in their positions despite having been dismissed by Trump.

The CPB contested Trump’s removal of Tom Rothman, Laura Ross, and Diane Kaplan from its board. A federal judge declined to issue an immediate injunction to restore their positions but cautioned that Trump could not take control of the board, emphasizing that the corporation’s newly revised bylaws limit the president’s power.

Pirro expressed on X, “The President lawfully removed three board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They filed a lawsuit to remain. The court ruled against them, yet they disregarded the court’s decision and remained. It is time for them to leave!!”

Democrats contend that the GOP expedited Bove’s confirmation despite allegations from former DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni, who claims Bove supported defying court orders in immigration matters. They also raised concerns about his role in the DOJ’s management of the Epstein investigation, which resulted in an agency statement denying the existence of any “client list.”

“If you wish to push this through, if you want to force this through, there is a method to do so in accordance with the rules as outlined by the parliamentarian,” Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) remarked to Grassley as other Democrats exited, with him ultimately following suit.

Grassley remarked at the conclusion of the hearing, “What transpired here today is no different than” when Democrats halted debate on previous judicial appointments during their majority control of the panel.

“This is not without precedent,” Grassley remarked. “… It has occurred previously, and we must expedite the process.”

Meanwhile, renowned podcaster and former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly is criticizing MAGA media figures such as Laura Ingraham for retreating from the Epstein narrative following Trump’s assertion that it is a Democrat “hoax.”

During her podcast, Kelly conveyed her astonishment at Ingraham’s sudden silence, especially after years of openly denouncing Epstein.

“You now have certain MAGA influencers, evidently following the White House’s lead, stating, ‘Alright, I’m finished,’” Kelly noted.