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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jeanine Pirro's career trajectory: From law review to the capital's top prosecutor
Not every federal appointment stems from quiet merit; some are thunderous, drawing attention not just for who is chosen, but for what they represent. Jeanine Pirro's confirmation as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is one such moment, an appointment steeped in controversy, allegiance, and ideology. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But beneath the headlines, behind the firebrand persona that once lit up cable news, lies a rigorous academic foundation that launched a lifelong legal career. Long before she was a Fox News icon or a trusted voice in Donald Trump's political orbit, Jeanine Ferris Pirro was a diligent student, a driven legal mind, and a woman determined to stand out in the male-dominated world of law. The formative years: Ambition at an early age Born on June 2, 1951, in Elmira, New York, to Lebanese-American parents, Pirro knew by the age of six that she wanted to be an attorney. It wasn't a childish whim but a guiding ambition that defined her academic path. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in just three years, a pace that foreshadowed the intensity she would later bring to her legal and media careers. While still in high school, she interned at the Chemung County District Attorney's Office, an unusually early exposure to criminal justice that would shape her approach to prosecution in years to come. Academic credentials: A career built on legal rigour Pirro pursued her undergraduate studies at the University at Buffalo, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. But it was at Albany Law School where she truly made her mark. There, she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1975, graduating with distinction and serving as an editor of the Albany Law Review, a role reserved for top-performing students with proven analytical and writing skills. Her academic record at Albany positioned her for competitive roles in the legal field, and shortly after graduating, she joined the Westchester County District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney, becoming one of the few women in that office during the mid-1970s. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Legal knowledge meets television stardom Pirro's legal scholarship didn't fade when she transitioned to television. Her commentary, while often polarizing, was informed by decades of experience and a deep understanding of the law. Whether as a legal analyst during the O.J. Simpson trial or later as host of Justice with Judge Jeanine, she deployed her academic foundation to connect legal principles with public discourse. Her seven published books, including Liars, Leakers, and Liberals, draw not only from political opinion but also legal argumentation and rhetorical structuring rooted in formal training. From education to execution: The D.C. appointment When Donald Trump named Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in May 2025 and saw her confirmed by the Senate on August 2, it wasn't just a political elevation. It marked the culmination of a career that began with careful study of case law and constitutional texts. The same woman who once edited scholarly legal articles will now oversee some of the most consequential federal prosecutions in the nation's capital. Critics argue that her Fox News rhetoric and allegiance to Trump overshadow her qualifications. But even her harshest detractors rarely question her academic record or her legal acumen. Her law school credentials, judicial experience, and prosecutorial background form a foundation that, at least on paper, supports the authority of her new post. A legacy rooted in law Jeanine Pirro's path to power has never been conventional. But while her media persona commands headlines, her ascent began with the quiet, disciplined work of legal education. From the halls of Albany Law School to the corridors of federal power, her story is one of ambition, academic rigor, and relentless pursuit. Whether her tenure in Washington serves justice or stirs controversy, one truth remains: it all started with a young woman who believed that the law was her calling—and had the academic record to prove it.
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Former Fox News host confirmed as top Washington prosecutor - International
The US Senate on Saturday confirmed former television personality and judge Jeanine Pirro to a key US judiciary post, making her the latest Donald Trump-nominated Fox News host to join the government. Pirro was confirmed to become the US Attorney for the District of Columbia in a 50-45 vote, as Trump urged the Republican-led Senate to work through the weekend to approve his nominations over six months after he returned to the White House. Related Trump plays golf in Scotland as protesters rally Pirro was named to the position in an interim capacity by Trump -- who has made a habit of filling powerful government posts with right-wing television network hosts and hardline loyalists -- in May. The brash 74-year-old former district attorney of New York's Westchester County was previously described by Trump as being "in a class by herself." She made a name for herself hosting weekend television show "Judge Jeanine Pirro" (2008-2011) and then Fox News Channel's "Justice with Judge Jeanine," which ran for 11 years. She was a co-host of Fox News's show "The Five" until she assumed her interim post, considered one of the most powerful US attorney roles. Pirro will join the ranks of other cable news hires like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend," and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a former reality TV show competitor and Fox Business co-host. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate's Judiciary Committee, said Pirro "should never be a permanent US Attorney," calling her pick a "rubber stamp for Donald Trump." Durbin cited Pirro's promotion of conspiracy theories in relation to the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. After touting unfounded allegations of election fraud in 2020, Pirro was named a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which said Fox broadcast false statements about the company. Fox News settled the case for nearly $800 million. She has also authored several books, including "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," from 2018. The Washington Post described the book as "sycophantic" in its support for Trump. Her ex-husband Albert Pirro was convicted of tax evasion when she was a district attorney in New York. He was pardoned by Trump during his first presidential term. As part of the spate of expedited confirmation votes, Trump's former lawyer Emil Bove became a federal appellate judge last week. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Int'l Business Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Backlash Heightens Amid Jeanine Pirro Pick For Interim DC Attorney: 'Wine-Soaked Loudmouth'
Jeanine Pirro Fox News YouTube Channel | Jeanine Pirro talks about her TV hosting tenure Fox News on YouTube / Screenshot Trump said Thursday that Pirro is 'incredibly qualified for this position' Lindsey Graham agrees with Trump's pick for interim U.S. district attorney for D.C. Many observers on X called out Trump for appointing someone 'unqualified' for the job U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he is appointing Judge Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and while the president's allies are celebrating the news, many users on Elon Musk-owned X are not so pleased about the selection. Trump heaped praises on his latest pick, saying Pirro who co-hosts "The Five" on Fox News, "is incredibly qualified for this position, and is considered one of the top district attorneys in the history of the State of New York." Who is Jeanine Pirro? Pirro joined Fox News and 2006 but before then, she was elected as a judge in New York's Westchester County Court in the early 1990s. She is mostly known for a 2021 lawsuit by voting tech company Smartmatic USA wherein she and others at Fox News were accused of spreading false claims over the company's alleged involvement in rigging the 2020 presidential election. Pirro has also authored several books, including Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy. Notably, Pirro isn't the first individual with ties to the conservative news outlet and political commentary TV channel that Trump has tapped into top roles in his administration. One of his top picks from the channel is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend." X Users Blast Trump's Decision On X, several known Trump allies have congratulated Pirro for getting selected for the crucial role. Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina said he is "beyond pleased" with the selection, saying Pirro is "exactly the right person at the right time to take on this responsibility." Grand slam, home run, hat trick pick. I am beyond pleased with President Trump's decision to make Jeanine Pirro the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. She is exactly the right person at the right time to take on this responsibility. She brings to the table… — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 8, 2025 However, many others were outraged by the selection, including Founder and Managing Partner Tristan Snell, who questioned how many more TV hosts Trump will place "in serious positions they're unqualified for." BREAKING: Trump to name Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as interim US Attorney for DCAfter Senate rejected his last pick, Ed MartinHow many more TV hosts is Trump going to put in serious positions they're unqualified for? THIS IS THE US GOVERNMENT — NOT THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE — Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) May 8, 2025 American singer-songwriter and activist Bill Madden said Trump's latest move is a sign he is "doubling down by giving serious consideration to unqualified and incompetent drunk" Pirro. After hiring unqualified and incompetent drunk Pete Hegseth to be Defense Secretary, Trump's doubling down by giving serious consideration to unqualified and incompetent drunk Jeanine Pirro as US Attorney for DC. There has never been a more incompetent president than Trump, EVER. — Bill Madden (@maddenifico) May 8, 2025 One user said the United States has now become "a banana republic," a term used by political scientists to describe a nation that's both politically and economically unstable. If we weren't a banana republic before, we are now. Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for DC? She hasn't practiced law in 20 years. She's not a prosecutor—she's a wine-soaked loudmouth with a camera. This is obscene. — Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) May 8, 2025 The user added that aside from Pirro supposedly not having practiced law in over two decades, "she's not a prosecutor—she's a wine-soaked loudmouth with a camera." Aside from the SmartmaticUSA lawsuit, Pirro is also known for a 2020 broadcast where she was accused of being drunk as she appeared to stumble over her words. Political content creator Harry Sisson called Pirro a "lunatic who has consistently spread conspiracy theories on Fox," adding that her appointment "is disastrous for the United States." Oh my… Trump just appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the next interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. She is a lunatic who has consistently spread conspiracy theories on Fox. This is disastrous for the United States. — Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 8, 2025 Trump has yet to address concerns over his latest selection. © Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Donald Trump Names Jeanine Pirro As Top Washington Prosecutor
Donald Trump on Thursday appointed TV personality and former judge Jeanine Pirro to a key post in the US judiciary, the president's latest nomination of a Fox News on-air host to a position of government power. The brash 73-year-old has been selected to work as interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, plucked from one of Trump's favorite hiring pools: right-leaning television networks. Other hires from cable news include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend," and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a former reality TV show competitor and Fox Business co-host. The pick came soon after Trump pulled his first choice for the post, a defense lawyer who represented defendants charged in the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. "I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, describing the former district attorney of New York's Westchester County as being "in a class by herself." Pirro briefly entered politics in ill-fated attempts to run for the US Senate and for New York Attorney General, losing the latter race to Democrat Andrew Cuomo. She began earning wider public exposure by hosting a weekday television show, "Judge Jeanine Pirro," from 2008 to 2011. That year she joined Fox News Channel to host "Justice with Judge Jeanine," which ran for 11 years, and today she is a co-host of the network's show, "The Five." Pirro has also authored several books, including "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," from 2018. The Washington Post described the book as "sycophantic" in its support for Trump. After promoting unfounded conspiracy theories alleging election fraud in 2020, Pirro was named a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which said Fox broadcast false statements about the company. Fox News settled the case for nearly $800 million.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump names Fox News host as top Washington prosecutor
Donald Trump on Thursday appointed TV personality and former judge Jeanine Pirro to a key post in the US judiciary, the president's latest nomination of a Fox News on-air host to a position of government power. The brash 73-year-old has been selected to work as interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, plucked from one of Trump's favorite hiring pools: right-leaning television networks. Other hires from cable news include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend," and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a former reality TV show competitor and Fox Business co-host. The pick came soon after Trump pulled his first choice for the post, a defense lawyer who represented defendants charged in the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. "I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, describing the former district attorney of New York's Westchester County as being "in a class by herself." Pirro briefly entered politics in ill-fated attempts to run for the US Senate and for New York Attorney General, losing the latter race to Democrat Andrew Cuomo. She began earning wider public exposure by hosting a weekday television show, "Judge Jeanine Pirro," from 2008 to 2011. That year she joined Fox News Channel to host "Justice with Judge Jeanine," which ran for 11 years, and today she is a co-host of the network's show, "The Five." Pirro has also authored several books, including "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," from 2018. The Washington Post described the book as "sycophantic" in its support for Trump. After promoting unfounded conspiracy theories alleging election fraud in 2020, Pirro was named a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which said Fox broadcast false statements about the company. Fox News settled the case for nearly $800 million. mlm/sla
