Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., is urging Senate leaders to confirm Pete Serrano as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington before his interim term ends on December 4. Serrano, a former Pasco mayor and Republican candidate for state attorney general, was appointed to the role by Attorney General Pam Bondi in August.
With the clock ticking on Serrano’s 120-day interim appointment, Baumgartner emphasized that public safety demands a fully empowered, Senate-confirmed attorney leading federal law enforcement efforts in the region. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he called for swift action, warning that a leadership gap would harm the district’s ability to combat crime.
Despite ongoing operations during the federal government shutdown, confirmation efforts face fierce opposition from Democrat Sen. Patty Murray, who vowed to block Serrano’s nomination using the Senate’s “blue slip” rule. Though the rule allows home-state senators to veto judicial and U.S. attorney nominations, it is not a law and can be overridden by a Republican majority.
Murray criticized Serrano’s conservative views on abortion and the January 6 Capitol breach. She labeled him “extreme” and “out of step” with Washington state values, citing his support for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and his defense of Second Amendment rights through the Silent Majority Foundation.
Serrano, though defeated in the 2024 attorney general race, won 29 of 39 counties in Washington, including most counties in the Eastern District. Since his appointment, his office has led multiple major law enforcement operations, including Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Liberty Lake, resulting in arrests of child predators, drug traffickers, and violent fugitives.
If the Senate fails to confirm him, Pasco may be forced to fill his vacated city council seat. Baumgartner insists the delay is politically motivated and risks undermining public safety for partisan gain.
