Overview
- A panel of Northern District of New York judges appointed and swore in Donald T. Kinsella to replace John A. Sarcone III after Sarcone was disqualified by a court.
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly declared, “You are fired, Donald Kinsella,” asserting presidential appointment authority, and Kinsella said he was notified by a White House email of his removal.
- U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield ruled last month that Sarcone was unlawfully serving and voided subpoenas tied to a probe involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- Sarcone is now listed as the office’s first assistant U.S. attorney while the Justice Department appeals Schofield’s decision and seeks a stay.
- Oversight of the Albany-based office remains unclear, and courts in New Jersey, Virginia, California and Nevada have issued similar rulings that disrupted Trump administration interim appointments.