Introduction to Bill Essayli
Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi has appointed Riverside County Assemblymember Bill Essayli — considered a rising and controversial Republican voice in California — as U.S. attorney for Los Angeles and surrounding areas, according to an email sent to the office’s staff and reviewed by The Times on Tuesday.
Background on Essayli’s Appointment
“Bill is excited to get started and will be sworn in tomorrow,” acting U.S. Atty. Joseph McNally wrote in the email. He noted that Essayli had previously served as a prosecutor in the same office and called his return a “homecoming.” Sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly said that Essayli’s appointment is as interim U.S. attorney, and that he will still need to be nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate in order to fill the position on a permanent basis.
Essayli’s Political Background
In a press release Tuesday night, Essayli’s chief of staff, Shawn Lewis, said Essayli had vacated his seat in the California State Assembly to accept the appointment. “I intend to implement the President’s mission to restore trust in our justice system and pursue those who dare to cause harm to the United States and the People of our nation,” Essayli said. Essayli, who was elected to represent part of Riverside County in 2022, has made his name in politics in part by attacking what he calls the “woke” policies of California’s liberal majority in Sacramento.
Role as U.S. Attorney
He will helm the Central District of California, the most populous U.S. attorney’s district in the country, covering some 20 million people across seven counties. Essayli, 39, has been a strong supporter of Trump over the years. Last May, after Trump was convicted of felony crimes tied to a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, Essayli posted on Facebook that he looked forward to electing Trump as president “to restore the rule of law and our constitutional principles.”
Controversies and Criticisms
He has criticized COVID-19 restrictions, critical race theory and California policies aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students. He has pushed especially hard for “parental rights” measures that would mandate parents be informed whenever a child identifies as transgender or asks to change their name or pronouns at school. The same issue has been a focus of the Trump administration, which last week announced it was investigating the California Department of Education for allegedly withholding such information from parents.
Previous Experience
U.S. attorneys are political appointees, and turnover in such posts is common in new administrations. However, Essayli’s selection comes amid robust efforts by Trump to install loyalists at the highest levels of government, including in law enforcement. It also follows allegations that the Trump administration is hiring and firing Justice Department attorneys based purely on politics and perceived loyalty to Trump and his allies. Essayli is the son of Lebanese immigrants and the first person in his family to have graduated from college, according to his Assembly biography. He is Muslim, and in the past has said, “My religion drives my moral compass, but it’s not everything that I am.”
Career as a Prosecutor
A graduate of Chapman University School of Law, Essayli served as a local prosecutor in the Riverside County district attorney’s office, then as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District, where he handled cases dealing with “violent and organized crime, identity theft, bank fraud, securities fraud, white-collar fraud, obstruction of justice, and a multitude of other matters,” according to his biography. He was also part of the team of prosecutors that handled the San Bernardino terrorist attack and mass shooting in 2015, McNally noted in his email.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Bill Essayli’s appointment as U.S. attorney for Los Angeles and surrounding areas marks a significant development in the Trump administration’s efforts to shape the justice system. With his strong conservative background and loyalty to Trump, Essayli is expected to play a crucial role in implementing the President’s mission to restore trust in the justice system. However, his appointment has also sparked controversy and criticism, particularly regarding his views on LGBTQ+ rights and his support for "parental rights" measures.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Bill Essayli?
A: Bill Essayli is a Riverside County Assemblymember who has been appointed as U.S. attorney for Los Angeles and surrounding areas. - Q: What are Essayli’s political views?
A: Essayli is a conservative Republican who has been critical of California’s liberal policies and has supported Trump’s mission to restore trust in the justice system. - Q: What are some of the controversies surrounding Essayli’s appointment?
A: Essayli’s appointment has sparked controversy regarding his views on LGBTQ+ rights and his support for "parental rights" measures, which some critics argue could endanger children in unaccepting homes. - Q: What is Essayli’s background as a prosecutor?
A: Essayli has served as a local prosecutor in the Riverside County district attorney’s office and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District, handling cases dealing with violent and organized crime, identity theft, and other matters. - Q: How long will Essayli serve as U.S. attorney?
A: Essayli’s appointment is currently interim, and he will need to be nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate to fill the position on a permanent basis.
