{"id":2569328,"date":"2026-02-12T12:21:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T17:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-fires-acting-us-attorney-in-new-york-hours-after-judges-appoint-him\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T12:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T17:24:13","slug":"doj-fires-acting-us-attorney-in-new-york-hours-after-judges-appoint-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-fires-acting-us-attorney-in-new-york-hours-after-judges-appoint-him\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ fires acting US attorney in New York hours after judges appoint him"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-fires-acting-us-attorney-in-new-york-hours-after-judges-appoint-him%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2569328&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports a fierce clash over U.S. attorney appointments after the Trump administration fired the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, Donald Kinsella, just hours after a panel of federal judges named him to the post. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Kinsella\u2019s removal, which came as he was replacing John Sarcone III, whose interim term had expired. U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield issued a 24-page opinion voiding subpoenas to New York Attorney General Letitia James and stating that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-disqualifies-new-york-us-attorney-and-tosses-letitia-james-subpoenas\/\" title=\"Judge disqualifies New ... US ... and tosses Letitia James subpoenas\">executive branch acted<\/a> without lawful authority when it pursued politically motivated investigations. The Justice Department plans to appeal the ruling. The firing reflects a broader confrontation between the administration and the judiciary over control of U.S. attorney appointments, a tension echoed in othre districts, including New Jersey with Alina Habba. Analysts expect the Supreme Court to eventually decide whether the president alone can name and fire U.S. attorneys or whether congressional oversight must play a role.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ fires judge-appointed acting US attorney in New York<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2502373\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> fired the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a> Wednesday just hours after a panel of federal judges selected him for the role, marking the latest escalation in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a>&rsquo;s battle with courts over control of federal prosecutor appointments.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that longtime lawyer Donald Kinsella had been removed shortly after judges in the district tapped him to replace President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s preferred pick, John Sarcone III, whose interim term had expired.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4456117\/boasberg-orders-trump-return-venezuelan-men-deported-under-alien-enemies-act\/\">James Boasberg orders Trump to return over 100 Venezuelan men deported under Alien Enemies Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4454940\/seven-takeaways-from-bondis-fiery-house-testimony\/\">Seven takeaways from Bondi&rsquo;s fiery House testimony<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4454967\/pam-bondi-tense-house-judiciary-committee-hearing\/\">Democrats unleash fury over Bondi&#8217;s handling of Epstein files<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Judges don&rsquo;t pick U.S. Attorneys, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@POTUS<\/a> does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XUYRgaqG2T\">https:\/\/t.co\/XUYRgaqG2T<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2021777972215062787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Judges don&rsquo;t pick U.S. Attorneys, @POTUS does,&rdquo; Blanche wrote. &ldquo;See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Federal law allows district courts to appoint an acting U.S. attorney when an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jeanine-pirro-announces-first-criminal-sentences-as-dc-prosecutor\/\" title=\"Jeanine Pirro announces first criminal sentences as DC prosecutor\">interim appointee&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >120-day term lapses<\/a> and no Senate-confirmed nominee is in place. However, the Trump administration has vehemently argued that the president is allowed to appoint and fire whomever he pleases, arguing final hiring authority is vested in the executive branch.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the administration&rsquo;s position, judges in Albany invoked their authority after Sarcone was disqualified in January by a federal judge who ruled the administration improperly maneuvered to keep him in office beyond his statutory limit.<\/p>\n<p>In a 24-page <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.nynd.149556\/gov.uscourts.nynd.149556.50.0.pdf\">opinion<\/a> written last week, U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield wrote that when the executive branch &ldquo;skirts restraints put in place by Congress and then uses that power to subject political adversaries to criminal investigations, it acts without lawful authority.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Schofield also voided two subpoenas Sarcone issued to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a> Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/letitia-james\/\">Letitia James<\/a>, a frequent political target of Trump who previously sought to sue his family business for hundreds of millions of dollars. The Justice Department is appealing that judge&rsquo;s decision to void the subpoenas.<\/p>\n<p>The Kinsella firing underscores a widening confrontation between the administration and the judiciary over who controls U.S. attorney posts. Courts in multiple districts have blocked or questioned Trump-backed prosecutors, including in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\">New Jersey<\/a>, where an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-upholds-ohio-law-banning-down-syndrome-abortions\/\" title=\"Appeals Court Upholds Ohio Law Banning Down Syndrome Abortions\">appeals court upheld<\/a> the disqualification of Alina Habba, another former personal attorney to Trump. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3902396\/appeals-court-alina-habba-unlawfully-served-new-jersey-prosecutor\/\">APPEALS COURT FINDS ALINA HABBA UNLAWFULLY SERVED AS TOP NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The administration is contesting several of those decisions as it seeks to keep preferred candidates in place without Senate confirmation. <\/p>\n<p>It will likely come down to the Supreme Court to decide whether the executive branch should have complete authority to name and appoint heads of U.S. attorney offices across the country, or whether congressional oversight must remain a factor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nThe Trump administration dismissed Donald Kinsella, who had just been chosen by a district panel to serve as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, hours after judges appointed him to the role. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Kinsella was removed after the district\u2019s panel named him to replace John Sarcone III, whose interim term had ended. The move comes amid a broader dispute over who controls U.S. attorney appointments, with the administration arguing the president has final hiring authority and courts contending otherwise. This clash intensified after Judge Lorna Schofield ruled that the executive branch acted beyond its authority by sidestepping congressional restraints and using power to target political adversaries, and she voided two subpoenas Sarcone issued to New York Attorney General Letitia James (the DOJ is appealing). The firing highlights rising tensions between the White House and the judiciary over U.S. attorney posts, as several districts have blocked or questioned Trump-backed prosecutors. The matter could ultimately reach the Supreme Court to decide whether the executive branch or Congress should have ultimate say over these offices.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\nDOJ fires acting NY U.S. attorney after judges&#8217; pick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2569329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26030678088049.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[73683,13993,7076,4274,73126],"class_list":["post-2569328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-acting-us-attorney-2","tag-appointment","tag-doj","tag-firing","tag-new-york-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26030678088049.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569328"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2569332,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569328\/revisions\/2569332"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2569329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}