Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News star, has long been infamous for her unflinching allegiance to Donald Trump. Now, she’s in contention to become the next interim prosecutor in Washington, D.C. Her nomination comes at a time of unprecedented heat on the culture war front. This new move has triggered intense backlash from the media and political opposition.
Pirro, a former county-level district attorney, hasn’t had a government legal job in decades. Her tenure at Fox has been a series of ups and downs. That alone would be shocking—especially coming from perhaps the most partisan-commentary drenched network on cable news. She had just recently come under fire from Fox execs. This was after she lent her support to the baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, closely tying herself to Trump’s narrative.
In a notable incident, Pirro was suspended by Fox News for her comments regarding Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s hijab, which she suggested was indicative of adherence to “sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution.” This suspension underscored the divisive nature of her critique and called into question whether her incendiary commentary voicing prejudicial hatred suited someone for a legal role.
Trump made Pirro’s potential appointment to interim prosecutor one of his trial balloons on social media. Moving Tribesman to the fore, he gushed about her, calling her “in a class by herself.” That makes Pirro the 23rd former Fox employee that Trump has picked for his administration. This shows just how much the trend indicates Trump’s reliance on the old guard of the network.
Some observers feel that Pirro’s nomination will give Trump the political cover necessary to focus on and address his legal challenges. Her qualifications for the role are deeply concerning. Critics say she could be a broader watchdog disaster than Pete Hegseth. Hegseth was the subject of intense opposition when he was nominated to be Trump’s almost-defense secretary.
“Since Trump returned to office, Pirro has kept busy by showering him with praise and lashing out at anyone who stands in his way.” – Matt Gertz
Pirro’s connections to Trump run deeper than mere professional loyalty. In fact, he famously pardoned her former husband, Albert Pirro, in 2020 after he was convicted on conspiracy and tax-evasion charges. This personal connection would make her interim appointment as prosecutor a greater ethical quagmire.
Pirro, an old Trump friend, has been extremely supportive of Trump’s policies and his orchestrated coup against the 2020 election since the beginning, promoting Trump’s lies about the election. Her nomination may be challenged in court. The Constitution forbids a president from appointing more than a certain number of acting U.S. attorneys consecutively, which would otherwise obstruct her confirmation.
Political observers note that Pirro’s stepping away from her high-profile role at Fox News might alleviate pressure on Trump, particularly after his previous choice for the D.C. prosecutor’s position met resistance from Senate Republicans.
Her lobbying for Trump when it really mattered hasn’t been lost on anyone. The New York Times speculates that Pirro would be able to provide unique, pragmatic support for Trump. This would go further than her new position as a fiscal oracle. Though much of her past is deemed controversial, which leaves us to question whether or not she’s fit for the prosecutorial position.
“Trump’s efforts to exact vengeance on his political enemies have backed his challenges to federal judges who have questioned the legality of his immigration policies and spent months protesting the legitimacy.” – Matt Gertz
One ex-Fox producer who worked for Pirro described her as “nuts.” This revealing remark underscores just how polarized views of her media industry persona are. Her still-high visibility on the inner Trump circle indicates she is still an important element in Trump’s political juggernaut.