Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Trump initiated a plan to circumvent the Senate advice and consent process to keep political ally, Bill Essayli, as top prosecutor for the Central District of California:
“The Trump Administration is again hijacking the U.S. Attorney appointment process in order to keep Bill Essayli in power without Senate confirmation votes. One look at Essayli’s record shows you why President Trump is worried about formally nominating him and, instead, is choosing to circumvent the law and the Senate’s power of advice and consent.
“Bill Essayli has used his time as Interim United States Attorney not to serve the people of the Central District of California, but as an audition tape for Donald Trump, complete with partisan press conferences, unsubstantiated charges, investigations so lacking in evidentiary basis that grand juries have reportedly refused to indict, and overt political acts to go after the President’s perceived enemies.
“Essayli is uniquely unqualified to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, and Trump’s egregious power grab shows you this Administration knows it.”
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