The Justice Department swiftly moved to fire the new US attorney for the Northern District of New York the same day federal judges announced his appointment.
Donald Kinsella was sworn in Wednesday as the new US attorney for the Northern District of New York. A panel of federal judges appointed him after a court disqualified John Sarcone, who was serving in the role on an acting basis.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X late Wednesday that “judges don’t pick U.S. attorneys,” the president does.
“You are fired, Donald Kinsella,” he added.
Spokespeople for the department didn’t immediately respond to questions about the post or leadership of the Northern District office.
The move is the latest power struggle between the Trump administration and federal courts over leadership of US attorney offices nationwide as DOJ has bypassed traditional steps to install preferred picks as top prosecutors. DOJ also fired a court-appointed US attorney in New Jersey last year.
Judges don’t pick U.S. Attorneys, @POTUS does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella. https://t.co/XUYRgaqG2T
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) February 12, 2026
Kinsella served in the US attorney’s office in the district encompassing Albany from 1989 to 2002.
Senior US District Judge Lorna Schofield last month ruled Sarcone wasn’t properly appointed and was barred from further investigating state Attorney General Letitia James. Schofield said Sarcone’s appointment violated the requirement that US attorneys be confirmed by the Senate.
The decision was another blow to President Donald Trump’s push to install loyalists in key prosecutorial jobs.
At the time, the White House indicated it would continue the fight over Sarcone’s appointment. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Jan. 23.
Sarcone is now listed as “First Assistant U.S. Attorney” on the office’s website.
The Albany Times Union reported on Kinsella’s appointment on Wednesday.
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