Government
Jul. 31, 2025
US attorney drops high-profile cases as DOJ extends tenure without Senate confirmation
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli dismissed indictments against Fatburger founder Andrew Wiederhorn and a former L.A. deputy just hours before his interim term was set to expire, as the Justice Department invoked the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to keep him in office without Senate confirmation--prompting criticism from California's Democratic senators.
U.S. Attorney Bilal A. "Bill" Essayli of Los Angeles moved to drop three cases in the hours leading up to a much-debated move by the U.S. Department of Justice to keep him in office without going through a formal Senate nomination process.
Shortly before the end of day Tuesday, Essayli filed papers to dismiss two indictments against Fatburger founder Andrew Wiederhorn - one for tax evasion and a second one for gun possession. U.S. v. Wiederhorn, 24-cv-00296 (C.D...
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