Legal Challenge Filed to Disqualify Nevada‘s U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah
LAS VEGAS, NV – The controversial tenure of Sigal Chattah as U.S. Attorney for Nevada is facing a meaningful legal challenge.Federal public defenders have filed a motion seeking her disqualification from prosecuting cases, arguing the Trump administration lacked the legal authority to extend her initial temporary appointment.
The motion, filed last week, centers on the case of shamar Garcia, who was indicted in July on charges of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. Public defenders contend that Chattah’s appointment exceeded its legal timeframe and that her continued service as U.S. Attorney is unlawful.
President Trump initially appointed Chattah, a conservative attorney and former Republican national Committeewoman for Nevada, as interim U.S.Attorney earlier this year. Chattah stated in July that her term had been extended through a designation as “acting U.S. attorney” to circumvent the expiration of her interim status.
This move drew immediate criticism from Nevada’s Democratic Senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, who accused the administration of attempting to bypass the Senate confirmation process. Both senators have vowed to oppose any permanent appointment of Chattah.
The public defender’s motion highlights a pattern of similar appointments across the country, citing a recent ruling in New Jersey where a federal judge steadfast that Alina Habba’s appointment as interim U.S. Attorney was also unlawful.
“As Ms. Chattah’s period as interim U.S. Attorney has expired, the judges of this district should exercise their authority to appoint a new interim U.S. Attorney,” the motion argues. The defense team is requesting the court either dismiss the indictment against Garcia or disqualify Chattah and the entire Nevada U.S. Attorney’s office from the case.The case has been assigned to Senior Judge David G. Campbell of the District of Arizona to hear temporarily. A status conference is scheduled for Thursday, where the motion to disqualify Chattah will likely be a central point of discussion.Keywords: Sigal Chattah, U.S.Attorney, Nevada, trump Administration, Catherine Cortez masto, Jacky Rosen, Public Defender, Legal Challenge, Disqualification, Alina