WASHINGTON — Less than a month on the job, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is asking for the resignation of 46 U.S. Attorneys.
Amongst those is Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. In a statement released by Justice Department Spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores, “The Attorney General has now asked the remaining 46 presidentially appointed U.S. Attorneys to tender their resignations in order to ensure a uniform transition.”
“It is customary, though not automatic, for the country’s 93 U.S. attorneys to leave their positions once a new president is in office. Incoming administrations over the past several decades typically have replaced most U.S. attorneys during the first year or two,” according to Fox News. Sessions public call for the resignations of the remaining 46 is an unusual move compared to past administrations.
Luger, appointed in November 2013 was confirmed by the United States Senate in February 2014. In July 2013, The Georgetown Law graduate was recommended by Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to the Obama Administration to replace Byron Todd Jones – who became the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Back in 2013, both Klobuchar and Franken gave glowing recommendations of Luger. In a joint press release, Klobuchar said, “From his days fighting white collar and drug crime as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, to his work with Minnesota law enforcement on their gang-fighting strategies, Andy has earned the respect of the legal and law enforcement community and has proven to be a tireless advocate for the people of Minnesota.”
“The breadth of legal experience and know-how Andy Luger brings to the table will be a great benefit to Minnesotans,” according to Franken.
According to Flores, “until the new U.S. Attorneys are confirmed, the dedicated career prosecutors in our U.S. Attorney’s Offices will continue the great work of the Department in investigating, prosecuting, and deterring the most violent offenders.”
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger released this statement Friday evening, “At the request of the Attorney General of the United States, I have submitted my resignation to the President, effective immediately. Serving the people of Minnesota as their United States Attorney has been the most fulfilling and rewarding experience of my professional life. The Office that I am leaving this evening is compromised of the most talented and motivated professionals I have ever known.”
The Star Tribune reports Klobuchar will campaign to have Luger prenominated to the position.
Subscribe to Alpha News as bring updates to Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney situation.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
