Sigal Chattah isn’t backing down, and neither is the Justice Department.
Chattah, a Nevada attorney known for being tough on crime and unapologetically conservative, was appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada back on April 1.
From the very start, the appointment ruffled feathers – mainly from Nevada’s two Democrat U.S. Senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen.
Their main complaint? Politics.
They called her an “election denier” and criticized her for representing a so-called “fake elector” tied to the 2020 presidential election.
Never mind that lawyers are supposed to represent people – even the unpopular ones. That’s how the justice system works.
But in this case, the Senators didn’t seem to care. They made it personal and political.
Despite the noise, Chattah went to work.
In just four months, her office has returned over $37 million to crime victims. That money came from seizures, forfeitures, and other enforcement actions tied to criminal cases.
That’s not just paper-pushing. That’s real justice for real people who were wronged.
Chattah also brought real-world experience to the job.
Before joining the Department of Justice, she ran her own law firm, Chattah Law Group, and even taught Political Science at UNLV.
She’s not a Washington bureaucrat. She’s a Nevada-grown attorney who understands both the courtroom and the community.
Now, her initial 120-day term was set to expire today, July 29.
Under normal rules, when an interim term ends, federal district judges can step in and appoint someone else. That’s allowed under 28 U.S. Code § 546.
But that didn’t happen.
Instead, the Justice Department made it official: Chattah will stay on as acting U.S. Attorney, a move that bypasses the judges and keeps her in place – at least for now.
Critics, especially on the left, are not thrilled. They’re still pointing to her political past and raising doubts about her future nomination to take on the job permanently.
That nomination process has stalled, thanks in large part to the opposition from Rosen and Cortez Masto.
But to many Nevadans, especially those who care about public safety, that kind of political drama feels out of touch.
Chattah has made it clear she’s focused on the job, not the headlines. And her results speak for themselves.
Her leadership is especially important in a state like Nevada, where federal crime issues – including human trafficking, drug trafficking, and fraud – continue to rise.
In Clark County alone, Metro Police report spikes in fentanyl cases and violent crimes. The state needs strong prosecutors. Not political games.
And that’s exactly what Chattah’s supporters are saying.
Of course, the political fight isn’t over. If President Trump sends her name forward for a full Senate confirmation, expect another round of partisan attacks.
But with the Department of Justice standing behind her, and with local support growing, Chattah’s future may still be bright.
For now, she’ll continue serving as Nevada’s top federal prosecutor. And in a world where Washington often feels broken, it’s refreshing to see someone still focused on doing the job – and doing it well.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
