The Senate conducted a significant vote regarding acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, on Thursday, moving her closer to a permanent position.
The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed her nomination on Thursday in a re-vote prompted by a Democratic walkout the previous week, as reported by the Washington Examiner.
Pirro received approval from the Republican-majority committee with a 12-10 vote along party lines. She, along with several other appointees from Trump, was scheduled to progress on July 17; however, the vote was deemed invalid when Democrats, protesting another nominee, disrupted the quorum.
Demonstrators against Pirro’s confirmation interrupted the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, vocally asserting that none of the committee members represented the constituents of Washington, D.C., and that the city’s residents had opposed her nomination, as reported by Politico, which did not mention that over 95 percent of Washington, D.C., residents are Democrats.
The Senate adheres to a “blue slip” policy that permits home-state senators to obstruct U.S. attorney nominees for their area. Nevertheless, since Washington is the capital of the nation, according to the Constitution, it lacks U.S. senators or House members.
Currently, Pirro is serving as the interim U.S. attorney after President Donald Trump’s first nominee for the role, Ed Martin, was unable to gain adequate backing from Republican senators. His confirmation was effectively hindered when Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, declared his opposition to Martin due to his remarks regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident and his defense of certain rioters, as noted by Politico.
Pirro took the oath of office in May to act as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., during a ceremony in the Oval Office. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath, with President Trump present.
“We must convey a message that justice will prevail in the District of Columbia,” Pirro stated following her oath of office. “My voice must resonate clearly: No more. No more acceptance of hatred. No more leniency for offenders.”
“Violence will be confronted head-on with suitable penalties, and this city will once again shine as a beacon in an America that President Trump has vowed to restore to greatness and safety,” Pirro continued.
Trump spoke about Pirro’s professional journey in both the legal and media fields prior to her swearing-in ceremony.
A representative from FOX News Media remarked in a statement: “Jeanine Pirro has been an exceptional addition to The Five over the past three years and has long been a cherished host across FOX News Media, significantly contributing to our achievements during her 14-year career. We wish her all the best in her new position in Washington.”
During her speech, Pirro denounced the recent killing of two Israeli embassy personnel on the streets of Washington, promising that justice would be delivered. She committed to ensuring that the “cold-blooded murderer” would face accountability.
Pirro has previously held the roles of assistant district attorney and district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and made history as the first female judge on the Westchester County Court.
She became part of Fox News Channel in 2006 and hosted “Justice with Judge Jeanine” for 11 years before transitioning to “The Five,” which has emerged as the most-viewed program in all of cable news.
Upon taking her new role, Pirro immediately engaged in her responsibilities. In recent weeks, her office reported that: (1) Robbers received sentences for kidnapping and assaulting a woman in her residence; (2) Three additional men in Washington, D.C., were sentenced for fentanyl trafficking; (3) A marijuana dealer who possessed a machine gun was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison; and (4) A jury convicted a father of first-degree sexual abuse of his 12-year-old child.
Additionally, on Thursday, two individuals received sentences exceeding 130 months in prison for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed illegal substances in Washington, D.C., along with a related shooting, according to officials.