Justice Department Fires US Attorney Who Was Picked By Judges For The Job

The Trump administration fired Donald Kinsella as U.S. Attorney for New York’s Northern District on Wednesday (February 11), just hours after he was appointed by a panel of federal judges, escalating tensions between the executive branch and judiciary over federal prosecutor appointments.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the termination on social media platform X, writing, “Judges don’t pick U.S. Attorneys, @POTUS does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella.”

Kinsella reportedly received an official termination email from the White House personnel office shortly after his appointment.

The firing represents the latest development in what Politico describes as the administration’s efforts “to circumvent both the Senate and the courts to install favored prosecutors” in key districts across the country.

Kinsella, 79, a Republican with decades of prosecutorial experience, had been selected by New York-based federal judges to replace John Sarcone III, a Trump loyalist who was disqualified by U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield in January. In her 24-page opinion, Judge Schofield ruled that Sarcone was serving unlawfully after the administration used procedural maneuvers to keep him in the position beyond his authorized term.

Sarcone, who had no apparent prosecutorial experience when appointed, was leading an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime Trump adversary. The judge’s ruling also quashed two subpoenas to James that had been signed by Sarcone.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer condemned the firing on Thursday morning, stating, “Everyone knows Trump only cares about one quality in a U.S. Attorney: complete political subservience. The people of upstate New York deserve a qualified, independent prosecutor, not another political loyalist.”

Similar judicial battles over U.S. Attorney appointments are occurring in multiple districts nationwide. Courts have issued rulings against Trump-appointed prosecutors in California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Virginia. In New Jersey, Trump loyalist Alina Habba left her post after an appeals court upheld her disqualification.

The Justice Department is appealing Judge Schofield’s ruling regarding Sarcone and has requested the decision be put on hold until an appeals court weighs in.