By: Fern Sidman

In a move that draws attention to President Donald Trump’s deepening reliance on Fox News personalities to staff his administration, the president on Thursday appointed The Five co-host and former Westchester County prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. As reported by The New York Post, Pirro’s appointment follows the abrupt withdrawal of nominee Ed Martin, whose lack of support among Senate Republicans forced Trump to look elsewhere.

“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position and is considered one of the top District Attorneys in the history of the State of New York,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, celebrating the choice with characteristic flair. “She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”

According to information provided in The New York Post, Pirro, 73, brings a formidable legal pedigree to the role. She served 15 years in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, eventually becoming the first woman elected to the county’s top law enforcement post in 1993. Her groundbreaking work included the establishment of the first-ever Domestic Violence Bureau in a prosecutor’s office nationwide—a legacy Trump praised in his announcement.

“During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime,” Trump noted. “She excelled in all ways.”

Pirro’s appointment marks yet another high-profile transition from Fox News to federal office in Trump’s second term. As The New York Post report chronicled, Pirro joined Fox News in 2011 and quickly rose to prominence with her weekend show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, known for its fiery monologues and steadfast defense of conservative values. She later became a full-time co-host on The Five, where she spent the last three years.

A Fox News Media spokesperson told The New York Post: “Jeanine was a wonderful addition to The Five and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.”

Her departure from the network follows a pattern now familiar to Trump-watchers. As The New York Post has reported, President Trump has leaned heavily on Fox alumni to fill senior government positions. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are all former Fox News hosts or contributors. Even the now-rescinded Surgeon General nominee, Janette Nesheiwat, was a Fox contributor, as was her last-minute replacement, influencer Casey Means, known for her “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.

Pirro’s path to the powerful post in the nation’s capital became clear only after Ed Martin’s nomination collapsed under Senate resistance. As The New York Post reported, Trump withdrew Martin’s name just days before his term as acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. was set to expire on May 20.

“He’s a terrific person, and he wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said of Martin. “I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day, but we have somebody else that will be great.”

Enter Jeanine Pirro.

Though her prosecutorial career is well-established, Pirro’s political ambitions have not always translated to electoral success. She declined to seek re-election as district attorney in 2005 and instead launched a campaign against then-Senator Hillary Clinton. That effort fizzled within months, but Pirro rebounded in 2006 as the Republican nominee for New York attorney general, a race she ultimately lost to future Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo.

Nevertheless, Pirro remained a powerful presence in conservative legal circles and media. Her legal expertise, combined with her tenacious on-air persona, made her a natural fit in Trump’s orbit. The New York Post has previously documented her close relationship with Trump, dating back to his first term when Pirro was a frequent White House guest and public advocate of Trump’s policy agenda.

Pirro’s appointment is already raising eyebrows in legal and political circles, particularly as it continues a trend of Trump drawing heavily from the Fox News talent pool to fill key posts. Critics argue this reflects an over-reliance on media personalities rather than career public servants or policy experts.

But defenders, including many featured in The New York Post, argue that the president is appointing trusted voices who reflect his values and who have proven track records in law, national security, and public communication.

What remains to be seen is how Pirro will navigate the complex legal landscape of Washington, D.C., a jurisdiction often at the epicenter of national legal controversies and high-stakes political prosecutions. The D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office oversees numerous sensitive matters, including public corruption cases, January 6 prosecutions, and enforcement of federal laws in the capital.

For Pirro, the appointment marks a return to the courtroom—and to a very different kind of spotlight. Though no stranger to public scrutiny, her new role demands a shift from partisan commentary to rigorous legal impartiality, at least in theory. Yet as The New York Post has pointed out in past profiles, Pirro has never been one to shy away from a challenge or controversy.

Trump, clearly, sees her as more than up to the task.

“Jeanine Pirro is battle-tested, bold, and brilliant,” one senior White House official told The New York Post. “The president has full confidence in her ability to restore public faith in the justice system in our capital.”

With her appointment now official and her departure from Fox News confirmed, Washington awaits how Pirro will shape—and be shaped by—one of the most politically sensitive prosecutorial offices in the country.