White House sends termination letters to some Biden-appointed US Attorneys, email shows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump White House on Wednesday sent termination notices to several U.S. Attorneys around the country who had been appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, according to an excerpt of an email reviewed by Reuters.

In the email, the White House’s deputy director for the office of presidential personnel told recipients: “At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as U.S. Attorney is terminated, effective immediately.”

Several U.S. attorneys from Seattle to Maryland have left their roles, though it was not immediately clear that all received the White House termination notices.

While it is customary for U.S. Attorneys to step down after a change in the presidential administration, usually the incoming administration asks for their resignations and does not issue tersely-worded termination letters, current and former Justice Department lawyers say.

Prior to Wednesday, more than two dozen U.S. Attorneys who were appointed by Biden were still in their posts. At least three remained on the job as of Thursday, according to their offices.

The White House had no comment. The U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to several requests for comment.

Among those terminated was San Diego-based U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath, a Biden appointee whose office late Wednesday said she was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House, which had thanked McGrath for her service.

Shortly after the termination notices were issued, Maryland-based U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, another Biden appointee, sent out an office-wide farewell email saying his time in office “has come to an end.”

“It has been an honor to lead such a talented and dedicated team,” Barron wrote, according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters. He confirmed his departure in a post on LinkedIn on Thursday.

Ismail Ramsey, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, has also “concluded his leadership” of the office, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Seattle-based U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman, who was appointed first on an interim basis by now-former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and later by the judges in the Western District of Washington, also stepped down at the president’s request, a spokesperson for her office said Thursday.

The top federal prosecutor for the Western District of North Carolina, Biden-appointed U.S. Attorney Dena King, late Wednesday announced she was also stepping down.

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REUTERS