A federal judge just slapped down an attempt to sideline Trump ally Jeanine Pirro from the D.C. assassination case, keeping one of the former president’s strongest defenders right where the left least wants her.
Story Snapshot
- A Trump-appointed judge refused to remove Jeanine Pirro and Todd Blanche from prosecuting the alleged Trump assassin.
- Defense lawyers claimed Pirro’s decades-long friendship with Trump made her too biased to stay on the case.
- The judge said their friendship and attendance at the event do not make them legal “victims” or create a conflict.
- Media outlets rushed to paint the defense motion as weak, while still hinting Trump’s team is “too close” to him.
Judge Says Friendship With Trump Is Not a Crime
Federal Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and senior Justice Department official Todd Blanche can stay on the prosecution team in the case against Cole Allen, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April.[1] The defense wanted Pirro and Blanche removed, saying they were too close to Trump to be fair. The judge said their ties do not meet the legal standard for a conflict.[1]
Defense lawyers claimed that because Pirro has spent Thanksgiving with Trump and because Trump pardoned her ex-husband, she cannot be trusted to act independently.[2] They also pointed to Blanche telling Trump, “I love you, sir,” as proof of personal loyalty.[2] But Judge McFadden said presidents usually pick top Justice Department leaders from people they know well and trust, and that this kind of relationship is normal, not corrupt.[1] He found no sign these friendships damage the case.[1]
Defense Tried to Paint Prosecutors as Secret “Victims”
The defense argued that Pirro and Blanche were “in the zone of danger” at the Washington Hilton when shots were fired, saying both heard the gunfire and took cover.[2] They said this made them potential victims and witnesses, which would normally trigger Justice Department conflict rules.[2] Judge McFadden disagreed, stressing that Allen is charged with trying to kill Trump, not Pirro or Blanche, and that they are unlikely to testify at trial.[3]
In a separate filing, the Department of Justice said the true direct victims are the Secret Service agent who was shot and President Trump himself, not Pirro or Blanche.[2] The judge agreed with that framing.[3] He also noted there is no evidence Allen even knew Pirro or Blanche would be at the dinner.[1] That undercuts the idea that the accused attacker was targeting them personally or that their role creates some hidden unfair edge for the government.[1]
Special Prosecutor Push Fails in a Familiar Media Script
Public defenders asked the court to bring in a special outside prosecutor, saying Justice Department rules bar employees from working on cases involving close personal relationships.[2] They claimed the entire Trump administration’s Justice Department was too politically loyal to Trump to handle a case where he was the target.[2] Judge McFadden said the motion focused more on attacking the administration as a whole than proving any specific conflict with Pirro or Blanche.[1]
Mainstream outlets such as the Associated Press, PBS, The Hill, and the Philadelphia Inquirer all echoed the judge’s view, describing the defense claims as legally weak and emphasizing that the court found no real conflict.[1] They highlighted his point that presidents have always tapped trusted friends for high Justice Department posts.[3] That history cuts against the idea that Pirro’s friendship with Trump is some new breach of ethics instead of business as usual in Washington.[1]
What This Means for Trump Supporters Watching the Courts
This ruling keeps a strong Trump ally in charge of a case where the former president is the alleged target, not the defendant. The legal record shows courts rarely grant motions to push out prosecutors based only on social or political ties instead of direct involvement in the facts of a case.[9] Judges usually say that removing top officials is a harsh step that requires clear proof of a real conflict, not just dislike of their politics.[9]
Nice Try: Judge Rejects Bid to Toss Jeanine Pirro From Trump Assassination Case https://t.co/qc0LAYe72s
— LadyPatriot777 (@LadyPatriot777) June 24, 2026
For many conservatives, this fight fits a pattern. The legal system and media often demand that anyone close to Trump step aside, even when he is the victim of a crime, while rarely questioning left-leaning ties in other cases. Here, at least, the judge followed the law, not the narrative. Pirro and Blanche stay on the case, and the man accused of trying to kill a president will still face a full prosecution in federal court.[3]
Sources:
[1] Web – Nice Try: Judge Rejects Bid to Toss Jeanine Pirro From Trump …
[2] Web – Judge denies request to bar Todd Blanche, Jeanine Pirro …
[3] Web – White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect seeks …
[9] Web – Suspect in White House correspondents’ dinner attack …
