Trump's loyalist prosecutors repeatedly lose high-profile cases, analysts say
Legal analysts note that attorneys appointed by Donald Trump have suffered a string of defeats in voter-data and U.S. attorney lawsuits.
In a recent discussion, lawyer Norm Eisen and legal journalist Adam Klasfeld examined the pattern of losses suffered by attorneys appointed by Donald Trump, especially in cases seeking state voter data. They enumerated dozens of defeats, including the dismissal of suits targeting Letitia James and James Comey, and noted the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ rejection of a plan to install Trump ally Sigal Chattah without Senate approval.
The analysts pointed to Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statement that the Justice Department is not independent, and described failed workarounds such as naming a "first assistant" to act as U.S. attorney. Additional examples included the removal of Alina Habba and the unsuccessful appointment of Jeanine Pirro and Lindsey Halligan. Klasfeld concluded that the courts consistently block attempts to place unconfirmed loyalists in key legal positions, underscoring the limits of executive staffing maneuvers.
Why it matters
The repeated judicial defeats limit the Trump administration's ability to shape federal law enforcement through loyalist appointments.
How this story developed
- Aug 19 Justice Department argues Comey’s seashell Instagram could be seen as a Trump threat
- Aug 19 The DOJ filing disclosed that Ellis Boyle independently decided to pursue the indictment and only briefed Attorney General Todd Blanche the day before the grand jury presentation.
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