In a shocking twist, President Donald Trump has chosen Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro to be serve as the top prosecutor in Washington, D.C., at least for the time being.
Pirro, a steadfast supporter and good friend of Trump's, is a former prosecutor and judge from Westchester County, New York.
"During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor's Office was the first in the Nation," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
While Pirro has yet to comment on her new role as interim U.S. attorney in D.C., Fox News confirmed that she has left her job at the network, where she was co-hosting The Five.
"Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington," a spokesperson for FOX News Media said in a statement.
Before her career in media, Pirro was the first woman ever elected as County Court Judge and District Attorney in Westchester County.
"Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!" Trump wrote.
At Fox News, Pirro became known for her vocal Trump support and blistering commentary on crime, first as a host of her own show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, which ran for 11 years, and then as a regular host on The Five, one of the most popular shows in cable news.
Pirro has been a steadfast defender of Trump through some of his toughest moments, publicly backing him during the Access Hollywood controversy that erupted before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump called for Pirro's Fox News show to be reinstated after she was suspended in 2019 following comments about Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN)
Pirro is not the first Fox News personality to get a job in the new Trump administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also a former host at the network.
Pirro will replace Trump's original pick for U.S. attorney in D.C., Ed Martin. Trump confirmed Thursday that he was pulling Martin from consideration for a permanent role after it became clear he did not have enough votes in the Senate.
"He wasn't getting the support from people that I thought," Trump told reporters at the White House. "You know, he's done a very good job. Crime is down 25% in D.C. during this period of time… I can only lift that little phone so many times of the day. But we have somebody else."
Republicans, especially Thom Tillis (NC), were uncomfortable with Martin's sympathy for Jan. 6 protesters.
Martin's term as interim prosecutor is up on May 20, but Trump said he will have a new role at the Justice Department investigating the "weaponization" of government under the "Biden regime."
