By ANDREA SHALAL, SARAH N. LYNCH and ANDREW GOUDSWARD Reuters
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to serve as Washington, D.C.’s interim U.S. attorney, after Ed Martin, the current interim job holder and Trump’s first pick to hold the job on a permanent basis, failed to garner enough support to advance in the U.S. Senate.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump lauded Pirro’s prior experience as an assistant district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and as a county judge.

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“During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor’s Office was the first in the Nation. She excelled in all ways,” he wrote.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after he told reporters during a White House event that he would be withdrawing Martin’s nomination due to a lack of support in the U.S. Senate for it to proceed. “I was disappointed. A lot of people were disappointed, but that’s the way it works sometimes,” Trump said.

In a later post on Truth Social, Trump said Martin would move to a new role in the Justice Department.

“Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, and will be moving to the Department of Justice as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney,” Trump wrote. “In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims. Congratulations Ed!”

Martin, in an interview on Thursday evening before Trump announced his new role, said that he knew taking the interim U.S. attorney job before being confirmed was a “gamble,” but that he had decided to take the risk and bet on himself.

“It’s an incredible office with incredibly talented people,” he said. “It’s been a really wonderful experience.”

A source close to the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week said the committee would not move forward with a vote before Martin’s interim term expires on May 20.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who sits on the committee, appeared to deal Martin’s nomination a fatal blow when he told reporters at the Capitol that he could not support him because of Martin’s views about the January 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol by Trump’s supporters.

Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said he was “relieved” that the nomination was withdrawn and that “Martin’s record made it clear that he does not have the temperament or judgment.”