Federal Judge Disqualifies Trump-Appointed Los Angeles Prosecutor Over Illegal Tenure

A federal judge ruled that Bill Essayli, President Trump's top prosecutor in the Central District of California, has been unlawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney beyond the 120-day legal limit for temporary appointments. Despite this, Judge J. Michael Seabright allowed Essayli to remain in the office as first assistant U.S. attorney, effectively enabling him to continue overseeing prosecutions, a move facilitated by Attorney General Pam Bondi's legal maneuvering. This ruling marks the third time a Trump loyalist has been disqualified from a top prosecutor role for similar reasons, with other cases involving Alina Habba in New Jersey and Sigal Chattah in Nevada. Defendants have challenged the legitimacy of indictments issued during these unlawful tenures, but Judge Seabright declined to dismiss those cases, noting that indictments were signed by assistant U.S. attorneys, not Essayli himself. Essayli has downplayed the ruling, asserting he remains the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and will continue advancing President Trump's agenda. These developments highlight ongoing legal scrutiny over the administration's tactics to bypass Senate confirmation and maintain loyalists in key federal positions.