Trump fires 2 U.S. attorneys in California

President Donald Trump has fired the U.S. attorneys in San Francisco and San Diego.

The move came within hours of the U.S. attorney in Manhattan walking off the job, along with federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., in protest of a decision to drop a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams.

Ismail J. Ramsey, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, issued a statement Thursday confirming he was fired on Wednesday afternoon.

"It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve as the U.S. Attorney in the community where I grew up. I am humbled and grateful that President Biden gave me this opportunity," he wrote. "The good that the men and women of the U.S. Attorney's Office have done for Northern California during my tenure is immeasurable."

"I am certain that the Office, without fear or favor, will continue to protect the public and defend the Constitution," Ramsey concluded. 

Ramsey did not say where he planned to practice law. Before his appointment in March 2023, he had his own boutique, Ramsey & Ehrlich LLP, in Berkeley that has been reconstituted as Ehrlich & Craig LLP.

Patrick D. Robbins became acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District as of Thursday. Robbins served in the Number 2 position in San Francisco since 2023. A 1989 graduate of American University, Washington College of Law, he worked at the U.S. Department of Justice and served on the Enron Task Force before joining Shearman & Sterling LLP as a partner in 2005.

U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath in the Southern District of California "was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House, at the direction of the President of the United States," according to a press release from the San Diego office.

McGrath was replaced by Andrew R. Haden, who has worked in the Southern District U.S. attorney's office since 2010 and will serve as acting U.S. Attorney.

In a statement Wednesday, McGrath recounted her achievements and praised her colleagues.

"It has been an honor to serve as U.S. Attorney, working alongside an exceptional team in this office and forging strong partnerships with our law enforcement agencies and communities in pursuit of justice," she wrote.

Reuters first reported that the firings had taken place. "At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as U.S. Attorney is terminated, effective immediately," an email from the White House reportedly read.

U.S. attorneys are usually asked for their resignations when new presidents take over, but Trump has moved to fire the Biden appointees.

U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert in Sacramento resigned on Jan. 11, according to Michele M. Beckwith, who succeeded him as acting U.S. attorney. She has been first assistant in the Sacramento office since 2022, according to its website, after first being hired in 2010.

Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, resigned on Jan. 17. Joseph T. McNally is currently serving as acting U.S. Attorney.

Former US Attorney for the Eastern District of California, Gregg Scott, appointed by Trump in November 2017, said that when you take the job as a U.S. Attorney that you "serve at the pleasure of the United States" and you could be asked for your resignation at any time.

"There's nothing abnormal or unusual or different about what has happened here today," said Scott, who is now a partner at King & Spalding LLP. "The same thing happened when Bill Clinton came in same thing happened over a more gradual pace when George W. Bush came in the same thing happened with when Biden came in.

"The President and the incoming administration are fully entitled to replace the previous administration's people and put their own people in place."

Scott added that he did not think much would change in the California districts with any new appointees as the policy memos that have already been issued by the Attorney General are "copacetic" with the priorities of the districts.

"That is immigration, drug enforcement, violent crime," said Scott. "The Northern District has historically been more of a white-collar office, and I think they'll probably see a few changes in their priorities."

Elsewhere, Danielle R. Sassoon, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York -- who prosecuted California-based crypto-fraudster Sam Bankman Fried which saw him jailed for 25 years for fraud charges -- resigned on Thursday. Sassoon was ordered to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams by the Justice Department on Monday.

She has been acting U.S. attorney since U.S. Attorney Damian Williams resigned Dec. 13.

Sassoon's resignation then triggered further resignations, as the Justice Department attempted to move the case to the Public Integrity Section in Washington, which oversees corruption cases. The two men who led that unit, Kevin O. Driscoll and John Keller, resigned as a result.

The No. 2 official at the Justice Department, Emil Bove III, had ordered Sassoon to drop the case, arguing that an investigation would prevent the mayor from carrying out the president's crackdown on immigration.

In a letter responding to Sassoon's resignation, Bove admonished the former U.S. Attorney, saying her "insubordination is little more than a preference to avoid a duty that you regard as unpleasant and politically inconvenient.

Bove added: "Your oath to uphold the Constitution does not permit you to substitute your policy judgment for that of the President or senior leadership of the Justice Department, and you are in no position to suggest that the President exercise his exclusive Article II authority to make your job easier."

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday, Sassoon called the directive "an improper offer of immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for a dismissal of his (Mayor Adams) case."