Senate Confirms Ex-Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro as DC Prosecutor
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The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the top federal prosecutor for Washington D.C., filling a critical Justice Department position after President Donald Trump withdrew his initial controversial nominee. Pirro was confirmed in a 50-45 vote, largely along party lines, to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The confirmation comes after Trump pulled his first pick, conservative activist Ed Martin Jr., following opposition from key Republican senators who cited concerns over Martin's support for January 6th Capitol rioters. Martin has since been reassigned as the Justice Department's pardon attorney.
Before her acting appointment in May, Pirro co-hosted "The Five" on Fox News weekday evenings, where she frequently interviewed Trump. Her media career has not been without controversy—she faces a $2.7 billion libel lawsuit from voting technology company Smartmatic USA over spreading false claims about the 2020 election.
The confirmation process faced additional complications when Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee walked out to protest Emil Bove's nomination to become a federal appeals court judge, though Republican committee members voted unanimously to advance Pirro's nomination to the Senate floor.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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