WASHINGTON – The Senate has approved Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, to be the leading federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C. This decision follows President Donald Trump’s retraction of his original nominee, Ed Martin Jr., a known conservative activist.

Pirro, who has a history as both a county prosecutor and an elected judge, earned confirmation with a vote of 50-45. Prior to her role as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia which began in May, she was a regular on Fox News’ “The Five,” where she often conducted interviews with Trump.

President Trump withdrew Martin’s nomination after an influential Republican senator expressed opposition, citing Martin’s vocal endorsement of the January 6, 2021, Capitol rioters. Currently, Martin holds a position as a pardon attorney in the Justice Department.

In 2021, Smartmatic USA, a company specializing in voting technology, initiated a lawsuit against Fox News, Pirro, and others, alleging that they disseminated unfounded claims about the company aiding in “stealing” the 2020 presidential election from Trump. This defamation case, lodged in a New York state court, demanded $2.7 billion in damages from those involved.

Recently, Republican members on the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously forwarded Pirro’s nomination to the full Senate. This occurred after Democratic committee members staged a walkout in opposition to Emil Bove’s bid for a spot on the federal appeals court bench.

Pirro, an Albany Law School alumna from the class of 1975, brings extensive courtroom experience compared to Martin, who entered office in January with no prosecutorial background or trial experience. Pirro previously served as a judge in New York’s Westchester County Court in 1990 and was elected as the county’s district attorney for three consecutive terms.

In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirro’s ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.