Who Is Jeanine Pirro, the New U.S. Prosecutor in D.C.?

Jeanine Pirro, former Fox News television personality and longtime legal commentator, has officially been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, the top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital.

Her confirmation followed a narrow 50–45 Senate vote on Saturday, replacing Trump’s earlier nominee Edward Martin Jr., whose support for January 6 rioters led to bipartisan opposition. Pirro, who served as a New York judge and district attorney before joining Fox News, brings decades of courtroom experience and high public visibility to the role.

Her appointment follows a trend in the Trump administration of elevating conservative media figures to senior government positions, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Pirro’s media career includes hosting “Justice with Judge Jeanine” and co-hosting “The Five.”

She was also named in Dominion Voting Systems’ 2021 defamation lawsuit over election fraud claims made on Fox News, which resulted in a historic $787 million settlement.

While her critics highlight past controversies, supporters point to her legal credentials and public advocacy. The Department of Justice now gains a high-profile figure at the helm of its Washington, D.C., office during a politically charged time.