The chief federal prosecutor in Eastern Michigan appointed by President Donald Trump is resigning. What does the future hold for the state’s Western District U.S. Attorney?
U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, who was appointed by President Donald Trump overseeing the Detroit office, will step down February 1st.
Staying put, for now, is U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge who has led the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan office in Grand Rapids since 2017.
Birge was First Assistant to U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles Jr., a Democrat. When Republican President Donald Trump took office, Miles resigned. At that time, then U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions elevated Birge to interim U.S. Attorney. At that point Birge, by statute, was on the clock. President Trump had 120 days to make the appointment official. When that time expired, Birge was court appointed to the fulltime job.
Now, President Joe Biden can nominate a new U.S. Attorney which must be approved by the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan tells us Birge will continue serving as its chief federal prosecutor until further notice.