Federal public defenders in Los Angeles filed a motion to disqualify acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and to dismiss an indictment against Jaime Ramirez, who faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Essayli was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in April and his term was set to expire in late July. The White House designated Essayli as acting U.S. attorney, extending his tenure without Senate confirmation by allowing him to serve 210 additional days. Deputy federal public defenders James Anglin Flynn and Aya A. Sarsour contend the administration circumvented congressional limits on temporary appointments.
The federal public defender's office in Los Angeles filed a motion Friday to disqualify acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, arguing that President Trump's pick to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Southern California is unlawfully occupying his post.
But the White House never moved to nominate him to a permanent role, instead opting to use an unprecedented legal maneuver to shift his title to "acting," extending his term another nine months without any confirmation process.
The federal public defender's office filed a motion seeking to dismiss an indictment against their client and to disqualify Essayli and attorneys working under him "from participating in criminal prosecutions in this district," according to a motion filed Friday morning.
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