Hold onto your hats, folks—another Trump-appointed U.S. attorney has stepped down in Delaware, caught in the crossfire of partisan politics and Senate traditions that seem more outdated than a flip phone.
Julianne Murray, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, resigned on Friday, citing insurmountable political roadblocks and a recent court ruling against a fellow Trump appointee as her breaking point, the Washington Examiner reported.
This saga began with Murray, a former Delaware Republican Party chairwoman, taking the helm as acting attorney, only to face a wall of opposition from the state’s Democratic senators.
Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester refused to return a blue slip—a quirky Senate custom that effectively gives home-state senators veto power over federal nominees—forcing Murray into a dead end.
Without that slip, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate wouldn’t even glance at her nomination, leaving her stranded in acting status with no path forward.
Murray didn’t mince words, stating, “I naively believed that I would be judged on my performance and not politics. Unfortunately, that was not the case.” Talk about a reality check—Washington’s obsession with political games over merit continues to frustrate anyone who values results over party lines.
The final straw came after a court ruling found Alina Habba, another Trump appointee, was serving unlawfully as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey, prompting Murray to stress the importance of upholding the rule of law.
She refused to let her office become a punching bag in this partisan brawl, emphasizing her dedication to the integrity of ongoing investigations.
“Stability and protecting the integrity of our investigations is my only focus. I cannot in good conscience allow my office to become a political football,” Murray declared. If only more officials prioritized duty over drama, we might actually get somewhere.
Let’s not forget the bigger picture: the blue slip tradition, which President Trump has repeatedly urged Congress to ditch, remains a stubborn thorn in the side of conservative appointments.
While Senate Republicans, led by Chairman Chuck Grassley, cling to this relic of Senate courtesy, Democrats gleefully block nominees they deem too loyal or inexperienced, leaving Trump to rely on short-term acting roles.
It’s a classic D.C. standoff—everyone digs in, and the American people are left waiting for functional leadership while courts crack down on expired acting terms.
In her resignation statement, Murray defended her record, insisting she never bowed to political pressures, and endorsed Ben Wallace as the only person she’d trust to take her place.
She also made it clear she’s not disappearing from the fight, promising to serve the Justice Department in a different capacity.
With a defiant tone, Murray hinted at more to come, saying, “The people that think they have chased me away will soon find out that they are mistaken.” That’s the spirit—don’t let the swamp drain your resolve.
