Jacqueline Romero, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced her resignation Monday evening as President Donald Trump moves to install his own appointees in key U.S. Department of Justice positions.
Romero’s departure follows a wave of resignations and firings of U.S. attorneys across the country.
It is common for new presidential administrations to request the resignation of U.S. attorneys, who lead offices responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil actions on behalf of the federal government.
Career prosecutor Nelson S.T. Thayer Jr., who was Romero’s first deputy, will serve as acting U.S. attorney.
According to Bloomberg Law, Romero was among 22 U.S. attorneys who lost access to their Justice Department accounts and devices last Friday but received no official notice regarding their employment status. The White House reportedly sent termination emails to incorrect addresses, leaving many affected prosecutors using personal devices while seeking clarity from Washington D.C.
Romero, who has been a federal lawyer and prosecutor since the late 1990s, previously served as a trial attorney for the Justice Department and as a lawyer for the U.S. Mint. She was nominated to her post by then-President Joe Biden in April 2022 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June of that year.
“When I came here, almost 20 years ago now, it was to do the job, to be a prosecutor. I didn’t come here for a title,” Romero said in her resignation statement. “But it has been the absolute honor of my life to hold this title of U.S. Attorney.”
Romero highlighted her office’s efforts to combat violent crime, fraud, and civil rights violations, pointing to an expanded violent crime unit and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to address carjackings, drug and sex trafficking, and white-collar crime. Under her leadership, the office successfully prosecuted high-profile cases, including the conviction of former Local 98 business manager John Dougherty, and secured hundreds of millions of dollars through False Claims Act settlements with corporations.
Romero, the first woman of color and LGBTQ person to hold the role, oversaw one of the largest and busiest U.S. attorney’s offices in the country. Her jurisdiction covered nearly six million residents across nine counties, with a staff of over 300 working from offices in Philadelphia and Allentown.
Trump will nominate a permanent replacement for Romero, who will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Advertisement
Convenient Legal Access to High Quality Cannabis Just A Few Minutes Away!
Leave a Comment