Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro's brutal snub to Kash Patel before joining Trump administration
The firebrand judge risked drawing President Trump's ire late last year when she snubbed the role because she had 'no interest' in working for Patel, two administration sources told The New York Times.
Patel was appointed to the top job despite his limited legal experience and outspoken distrust of the FBI, drawing widespread criticism and raising questions about whether he was equipped for the job.
The role Pirro turned down ultimately went to Dan Bongino, a podcaster and former Secret Service agent who has been a leading proponent in voicing several MAGA conspiracy theories.
Then in May, Pirro was asked to step in as interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia after Trump's first pick for the role - longtime conservative activist, podcast host, and recent defender of January 6th rioters Ed Martin - failed to secure support from enough Senate Republicans to proceed with his confirmation.
By August 3 she had been sworn into the role on a permanent basis.
In the meantime, Patel and Bongino have been under immense pressure following a decision by Attorney General Pam Bondi to not release the Epstein files and mass departures at the agency.
Pirro has worked tirelessly to bring to life Trump's crime crackdown in the capitol.
Pirro celebrated Trump's recent decision to deploy the National Guard and federalize D.C. police, noting crime in the city is 'out of control.'
'I see too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the hell out of you,' Pirro said alongside Trump this week.
Trump announced plans to take over D.C. after a young man who was working for DOGE was 'very badly hurt' and 'beat up by a bunch of thugs in D.C.'
The identity of the 19-year-old man involved in the reported incident was Edward Coristine, famously nicknamed 'Big Balls' by his peers.
'Here's what the president is going to do. He's going to make a difference. We're going to change the laws,' Pirro told Fox this week.
'We've got liberal judges, we've got liberal laws - everything's gonna change.'
Pirro's jurisdiction encompasses the headquarters of most government agencies, which makes her role one of the most influential in the country.
Cases brought before her division may include ones of national security and public corruption, as well as violent crimes and drug trafficking.
Republicans, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, praised Trump's selection for the role, while doing their best to fend off attacks on Pirro from their Democrat counterparts.
'You may hear my Democrat colleagues criticize Ms. Pirro for some of her colorful remarks during her time as a TV personality,' Grassley, stated on the Senate floor ahead of Saturday's vote, adding that 'yes, she has a larger-than-life personality.'
However, Grassley added that, 'she has [a] decades [long] distinguished record as a prosecutor and judge. D.C. is fortunate that the president nominated her to serve as its U.S. attorney. Her job in the interim role, where she is stationed now, has been heralded.'
Pirro began her career as a fierce young lawyer in New York City, primarily targeting sexual offenses against women and children.
She climbed through the ranks as a political moderate and went on to be elected Westchester County district attorney in 1993 as a Republican.
From there, she jumped across to Fox News as a commentator and panelist, earning as much as $3million per year on The Five.
But in 2019 she was suspended by the network after suggesting politician Ilhan Omar's decision to wear a hijab was un-American.
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