Key facts
- Roger Rogoff, the court-appointed U.S. attorney for Seattle, has sued President Donald Trump.
- Rogoff's lawsuit challenges the legality of his removal from office by the Trump administration.
- The suit argues that federal law protects court-appointed U.S. attorneys until a Senate-confirmed nominee takes office.
- Rogoff seeks a court declaration that his firing is invalid and that he remains in his position.
- The Justice Department maintains that the President has the authority to remove such appointees.
Roger Rogoff, the top federal prosecutor in Seattle who was appointed by judges, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging his recent ouster. Rogoff was sworn in as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington on July 15, only to be removed by President Donald Trump an hour later. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Seattle, contends that Trump unlawfully removed Rogoff, arguing that federal law permits a court-appointed U.S. attorney to serve until a presidential nominee confirmed by the Senate fills the position. Rogoff is seeking a court declaration that his firing is invalid and that he remains in his role until a successor is confirmed. He stated that the President's actions violate the law and the Constitution. The Justice Department, however, asserted that the district court did not coordinate with them on the selection and that the removal is entirely within the President's authority.