New Mexico Acting US Attorney Faces Rejection Bid in Trump Trend

Sept. 10, 2025, 9:52 PM UTC

Defense attorneys asked a federal judge to disqualify acting New Mexico US Attorney Ryan Ellison, the fourth of President Donald Trump’s chief prosecutors to face legal challenges over their appointment process.

In a motion Wednesday, federal public defenders argued that Ellison lacks authority to oversee criminal prosecutions in New Mexico because the Trump administration improperly extended his term.

Ellison has faced judicial backlash over his implementation of the administration’s aggressive immigration agenda. He was reclassified Aug. 15 from interim to acting, following the district court’s decision not to appoint him.

The post-Aug. 15 actions by Ellison and the ...

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