Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday deferred questions about the future of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to President Donald Trump, stating, “that’s his call.” Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, praised Pirro, saying, “Judge Pirro is doing a great job,” a day after Trump said he had not yet made a determination on her future.

Blanche’s comments came less than a week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn and others accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro announced the DOJ’s decision, attributing the damage to overspraying and delamination rather than vandalism.

“If President Trump wanted to fire anybody within his administration, he understands he has the power to do that. So, when he makes a decision about whether to fire a U.S. attorney or anybody else, that’s his call,” Blanche said.

President Trump criticized Pirro for failing to prosecute four individuals, including Hearn, for the alleged vandalism after the pool was closed for renovations he spearheaded. Trump said Pirro “choked” and accused a judge of targeting Pirro and her department instead of the accused.

Following the dropped charges against Hearn, prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi on Monday, indicating they will no longer pursue charges against Cameron Theirs, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Justin Carreno, who were also accused by Pirro’s office.

Sources