'Greatest hour in my life': Trump removes Roger Rogoff as US Attorney in Seattle less than an hour after swearing-in

In a stunning move, President Donald Trump removed newly appointed US Attorney Roger Rogoff from his post in Seattle less than an hour after he was sworn in on Tuesday. Rogoff, a veteran federal prosecutor, former King County Superior Court judge, and former director of Washington state's Office of Independent Investigations, had been unanimously appointed by the federal judges serving in the Western District of Washington.

US attorneys, who serve as the chief federal prosecutors in each judicial district, are typically nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. However, temporary appointments can be made when a vacancy arises. If that interim appointment expires before the Senate confirms a permanent nominee, the federal judges in the district have the authority to appoint a US attorney to serve until the position is filled.

Reacting to the unusual turn of events, Rogoff told KOMO News, "Greatest hour in my life," when asked what it was like serving as Seattle's US attorney for less than an hour. Rogoff said he was dismissed in an email titled 'A Message From the President.'


"It basically said, 'I'm informing you that pursuant to his authority, President Trump is hereby removing you from the office of the United States attorney,'" Rogoff said as quoted by the outlet.


In a telephone interview with KOMO News, Rogoff recounted the unusual sequence of events. He said that after being sworn in, he went to the US Attorney's Office and asked to meet with Charles Neil Floyd, whose 120-day interim term as US attorney had ended in February. While waiting in the lobby, Rogoff said he received an email from the Trump administration notifying him that he had been removed from the position.

"District court judges can appoint a temporary US Attorney, and POTUS can fire them," Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. He added that the judges, who appointed Rogoff, abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration so that the selected US Attorney is qualified to serve in the administration.


Rogoff, who served 20 years as a state prosecutor and six years as a federal prosecutor before becoming a state judge, said he was aware the Trump administration could remove him almost immediately. Even so, he said he had no hesitation about accepting the appointment despite the possibility of a confrontation. Calling the position 'the best job there is' for a prosecutor, Rogoff said the opportunity was worth taking, even if it lasted only briefly.

"I'm really proud of my career," Rogoff said as quoted by news agency AP. "The fact that the judges of this district - most of whom I've spent my career appearing in front of, or trying cases against, or working with - believed that I was the right person to do this work is just really humbling and amazing."