The Senate has confirmed 13 U.S. Attorneys and the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, following a vote of 53-43. The confirmation was part of a larger nominations package that included 97 executive nominees.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) highlighted that this brings the total number of President Trump’s U.S. Attorneys confirmed this year to 31, matching the first-year confirmations during the Biden administration. Of these, four received blue slips from Democrat senators.
“U.S. Attorneys are an essential component of law enforcement – responsible for prosecuting violent criminals, protecting the public and enforcing the rule of law. Yesterday, Senate Republicans successfully voted to confirm these critical law enforcement officers to protect communities across the country. The bulk of Senate Democrats who voted ‘no’ yet again proved their disdain for the safety and wellbeing of Americans. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I’ll continue working in the new year to successfully and efficiently advance and confirm President Trump’s nominees,” Grassley said.
The confirmed nominees are Andrew Duva as Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division; Erin Creegan for District of New Hampshire; Jerome Francis Gorgon, Jr., Eastern District of Michigan; David Courcelle, Eastern District of Louisiana; Braden Boucek, Middle District of Tennessee; Domonick Gerace II, Southern District of Ohio; Bryan Stirling, District of South Carolina; Thomas Wheeler II, Southern District of Indiana; Adam Mildred, Northern District of Indiana; Thomas Albus, Eastern District of Missouri; Thomas Ferguson III, Western District of North Carolina; Ryan Antony Kriegshauser, District of Kansas; James Kruger, Southern District of Mississippi; and Scott Leary, Northern District of Mississippi.
Historically, U.S. Attorneys have been confirmed on a bipartisan basis due to their non-political nature. This year saw changes when Senate Democrats placed holds on all 93 U.S. attorney nominations from President Trump. In October, Senate Republicans overcame this blockade by confirming 18 U.S. Attorneys as part of another nominations package.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation related to criminal justice and civil liberties as well as evaluating judicial nominations and overseeing federal agencies nationwide. The committee is led by a chairperson who manages meetings attended by senators from both major parties.
As a standing committee within the legislative branch based in Washington D.C., it influences constitutional protections and public safety through its oversight duties and legislative responsibilities across federal law and judicial matters in the United States.
