Court disqualifies Trump-appointed US attorney in Nevada from overseeing multiple criminal cases
Share and Follow


LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge disqualified Nevada acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah from several cases after concluding Tuesday that the Trump appointee has stayed in the temporary job longer than allowed by law.

U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell disqualified Chattah from supervising the criminal prosecutions, siding with defense lawyers who argued that her authority expired in July.

Campbell ordered government attorneys on the cases to tell the court within seven days that Chattah is not directing their work. He did not dismiss the indictments, however.

A phone call seeking comment was not answered Tuesday night by Chattah’s office, and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to an emailed request.

It was the second setback in recent weeks for the Trump administration’s effort to extend handpicked acting U.S. attorneys beyond the 120-day limit set by federal law. A judge reached the same conclusion as Campbell in August in ruling acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey, Alina Habba, was in the job illegally.

Under federal law, if a permanent U.S. attorney is not nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate within 120 days, judges of the federal district court can appoint an interim until the vacancy is filled, Campbell wrote in his ruling.

Campbell took aim at the Trump administration’s strategy of using a string of temporary appointments to allow Trump’s candidates to bypass the usual requirement that U.S. attorneys be confirmed by the Senate — something that generally requires a degree of bipartisan support.

He pointed to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, which Congress passed specifically to regulate the temporary filling of executive branch vacancies that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.

“The procedure used by the government to appoint Ms. Chattah was never intended by Congress,” Campbell wrote.

Chattah, a conservative lawyer, drew opposition from Nevada’s Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. Both vowed to block her if the administration sought to make her appointment permanent, calling her an election denier who has advocated for political violence and supported illegal actions by Trump.

Chattah previously represented Nevada churches that challenged the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, arguing they violated First Amendment rights by treating churches differently than casinos or other secular businesses. She ran for state attorney general in 2022 but lost to Aaron Ford, a Democrat.

Chattah also represented one of six Nevada Republican Party members accused of submitting certificates to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election in the state.

The appointment of Trump loyalists to the Department of Justice has also deepened concerns that the agency, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, is being weaponized in pursuit of investigations and now prosecutions of people the president regards as political enemies.

Last Thursday former FBI Director James Comey was charged with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after Trump appeared to urge Bondi to prosecute him.

Trump has also pushed the department to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully sued him for fraud. Pressure from the White House also led to the resignation of a top federal prosecutor in Virginia.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
George Clooney, Rami Malek, Sydney Sweeney films announced as a part of AFI Fest's Red Carpet Gala line up

Films featuring George Clooney, Rami Malek, and Sydney Sweeney to be showcased at AFI Fest’s Red Carpet Gala

LOS ANGELES — The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the final…
Watch: Indiana animal control officers save husky from tree

Video: Indiana Officers Rescue Husky Stuck in Tree

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) rescued…
Romney says he urged Biden administration to preemptively pardon Trump

Romney Reveals He Advised Biden to Consider Pardoning Trump in Advance

Former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on Monday he tried to get…
Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's divorce documents

Exploring the Divorce Papers of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Nicole Kidman will become the primary residential parent of her daughters Sunday Rose,…
Chicago biker provokes border patrol agents, claiming he's not a 'US citizen' before wild chase

Biker in Chicago Claims He’s Not a ‘US Citizen,’ Sparks Intense Chase with Border Patrol Agents

A bold cyclist taunted US Customs and Border Protection officers in downtown…
Trump's deadline on drug prices arrives: What next?

Trump’s Drug Price Deadline Reached: What’s the Next Step?

President Trump’s strategy to lower prescription drug prices will be put to…
Josh Hartnett car crash resulted in major damage to BOTH vehicles

Josh Hartnett Involved in Severe Car Accident Damaging Two Cars

New footage has revealed the extensive damage inflicted after a vehicle carrying…
Hawks meant to 'work' Los Angeles Rams game Sunday in California inside vehicle stolen from SoFi Stadium: Inglewood police

Thieves Planned Heist at Rams Game Using Car Stolen from SoFi Stadium: Inglewood Police Report

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Police are on the lookout for some precious cargo…