Introduction to the Trump Administration’s Maneuvers
The White House moved Tuesday to keep interim U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli in power as Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, marking the Trump administration’s latest maneuver to defy norms and keep controversial appointees in positions across the country.
Background on Essayli’s Appointment
Essayli — a former Riverside County assemblyman, staunch conservative and Trump ally — will be named Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, according to Matthew Nies, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice. He will be granted the acting title at 5:01 p.m., Nies said. Essayli was appointed to his post by U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi in early April. Interim appointees must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate within 120 days. But Trump never moved to formally nominate Essayli for confirmation by the U.S. Senate, where he would have faced fierce opposition from California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, both Democrats.
The Maneuver to Keep Essayli in Power
The maneuver — which echoes steps the Trump administration took to keep its chosen prosecutors in power in New York, New Jersey and Nevada in recent weeks — allows Essayli to stay in office while sidestepping normal confirmation processes in the U.S. Senate. That left Essayli’s fate in the hands of a local federal judicial panel, which declined to name anyone to the post on Tuesday, according to a report from Fox News. Court records do not reflect any action taken by local judges. Assuming the role of acting U.S. attorney will seemingly give Essayli another 210 days in the position before he has to face any formal confirmation process.
Similar Maneuvers in Other States
In upstate New York, a judicial panel declined to name John A. Sarcone III, or anyone else, as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York. In response, Bondi appointed Sarcone to a lower position in the office but effectively gave him the powers of the top federal prosecutor. In New Jersey, a judicial panel rejected Trump’s pick, Alina Habba, one of the president’s former personal attorneys who had no experience as a prosecutor before being named the state’s top federal law enforcement official. In response, the Trump administration moved to fire Desiree Leigh Grace, a career prosecutor and registered Republican whom the judicial panel named to replace Habba. Trump later rescinded his nomination of Habba and appointed her as acting U.S. attorney.
Controversy Surrounding Essayli’s Tenure
Essayli’s time as L.A.’s top federal prosecutor has been marked by controversy. Not long after getting the job, he moved to offer a no-jail plea deal to L.A. County sheriff’s Deputy Trevor Kirk — who had already been convicted of assault for using excessive force when he threw a woman to the ground and pepper-sprayed her while responding to a 2023 robbery in a Lancaster supermarket. The woman was not armed or committing a crime when Kirk confronted her, court records show. Essayli’s decision, which was not prompted by new evidence regarding Kirk’s guilt or innocence, led several veteran prosecutors to resign. Prosecutors who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation within the office have described Essayli as a chaotic and belligerent leader who seems more focused on advancing the president’s agenda than making decisions that comport with the law.
Analysis of the Trump Administration’s Actions
Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor in L.A. who now serves as a professor at the Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, said the Trump administration’s actions reflected an unprecedented exploitation of a legal loophole. “These laws have never been used, as far as I can see, to bypass the Senate confirmation process or the judicial one,” Levenson said. “The most serious consequences are if you’re going to end up with indictments that are not valid because they weren’t signed by a lawful U.S. Attorney.” It remains unclear exactly what happens when the clock on Essayli’s acting tenure runs out next year.
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s maneuvers to keep Essayli as L.A.’s U.S. Attorney have raised concerns about the exploitation of legal loopholes and the potential consequences for the justice system. With Essayli’s fate now squarely in Trump’s hands, Levenson said it’s clear the White House is calling the shots for federal law enforcement in Southern California. “I don’t think [Essayli] even pretends he’s making these decisions on his own,” Levenson said of Essayli. “I think he’s just the messenger here.”
FAQs
Q: Who is Bill Essayli and what is his role?
A: Bill Essayli is the interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, and he has been named Acting U.S. Attorney by the Trump administration.
Q: Why is Essayli’s appointment controversial?
A: Essayli’s appointment is controversial because he was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate and has been accused of being a chaotic and belligerent leader who prioritizes advancing the president’s agenda over making decisions that comport with the law.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the Trump administration’s actions?
A: The potential consequences of the Trump administration’s actions include the possibility of invalid indictments and the erosion of the justice system’s integrity.
Q: How long will Essayli remain in his position?
A: Essayli will remain in his position for at least 210 days before he has to face any formal confirmation process.
Q: What is the significance of the Trump administration’s maneuvers?
A: The Trump administration’s maneuvers signify an unprecedented exploitation of legal loopholes to bypass the Senate confirmation process and the judicial system.
