White House Fires Newly Appointed U.S. Attorney in Upstate New York

The Trump administration moved quickly to remove the veteran litigator appointed by federal judges to the Northern District of New York.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Federal judges in upstate New York appointed veteran litigator Donald T. Kinsella as the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York on Wednesday, but just hours later the White House fired him, the latest clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary over U.S. attorney appointments.

Why it matters

The firing highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary over control of U.S. attorney appointments, with the White House seeking to install its own picks and the courts pushing back against what they see as unlawful appointments.

The details

Kinsella, a 79-year-old with over 50 years of experience as a criminal and civil litigator, was appointed in a private ceremony on Wednesday to replace John A. Sarcone III, whom a judge had found was serving unlawfully. But just hours later, Kinsella said he received an email from a White House official telling him he was being removed from the post. It is unclear whether the White House email carried the force of law, and the district judges may have some recourse, though the Trump administration has previously indicated it would fire any prosecutor chosen by the courts.

  • On Wednesday, federal judges in upstate New York appointed Donald T. Kinsella as the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York.
  • Just hours after his appointment, Kinsella said he received an email from the White House firing him from the post.

The players

Donald T. Kinsella

A 79-year-old veteran litigator with over 50 years of experience in criminal and civil law, who was appointed by federal judges as the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York.

John A. Sarcone III

The previous U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, whom a judge found was serving unlawfully.

The Trump Administration

The White House, which quickly moved to fire the newly appointed U.S. attorney, Kinsella, in the latest clash with the federal judiciary over control of these appointments.

Federal Judges

The judges in the Northern District of New York who appointed Kinsella to replace Sarcone, only to see the White House fire him shortly after.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

It is unclear whether the district judges will have any recourse to challenge Kinsella's firing by the White House.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing power struggle between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary over control of U.S. attorney appointments, with the White House seeking to install its own picks and the courts pushing back against what they see as unlawful appointments.