Judge Disqualifies Bill Essayli From 2 Cases as 20,000 California Ballots Face Challenge
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 28
Judge Disqualifies Bill Essayli From 2 Cases as 20,000 California Ballots Face Challenge
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 28
Summary
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright barred Bill Essayli from participating in or supervising two criminal prosecutions, finding he is unlawfully serving as a "de facto" U.S. attorney.
120 days after Essayli's interim appointment expired, Attorney General Pam Bondi recast him as a special attorney and first assistant, but Seabright said that still effectively let him occupy the vacant Senate-confirmed post.
A Ninth Circuit ruling this summer against a similar Nevada arrangement prompted Seabright to revisit the issue; even a narrower designation issued last month by Attorney General Todd Blanche failed to cure the problem.
The order will not take effect immediately, giving the Justice Department time to seek a stay and appeal as Essayli says the dispute will ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
The ruling lands as Essayli helps lead a Justice Department bid to segregate ballots tied to about 20,000 suspected noncitizen voters in California before midterm votes are counted, with a separate federal ruling due Wednesday.