The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump's appointment of Nicholas Trutanich as U.S. attorney for Nevada.
Trutanich's appointment was confirmed Wednesday by the Senate after being announced last July by then-Republican Sen. Dean Heller and endorsed by Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and then being put on hold along with numerous other presidential appointments.
Trutanich will replace Dayle Elieson, who was appointed interim U.S. attorney by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions last January.
Trutanich is chief of staff to departing state Attorney General Adam Laxalt.
He previously was a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and served a deputy justice attache handling national security cases in Iraq.
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement:
“Nicholas Trutanich is a public servant who has served Nevada well. I believe he will continue that good work on behalf of the Silver State as our next U.S. Attorney. I look forward to working with him and I will continue to do all I can to ensure that this Administration nominates dedicated public servants that uphold the rule of law and ensure fair and efficient justice for everyone in the State of Nevada.”
Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt issued the following statement:
“Nicholas Trutanich is one of the most talented and capable people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” said Attorney General Adam Laxalt. “During his tenure as Chief of Staff for the Attorney General’s Office, he displayed unparalleled capacity to handle any issue affecting our office and the State. He did so with a heart for service and a drive for perfection. I have no doubt that Trutanich will exercise the same leadership and excellence to impact the lives of Nevadans as our U.S. Attorney.”
“As I continue my service to the Silver State, I am humbled to have earned the unanimous support of the U.S. Senate,” added Nicholas Trutanich. “I am especially grateful to the President, Senator Cortez-Masto and Senator Heller, who supported my desire to serve Nevadans. I am proud to have served alongside my dear friend Attorney General Adam Laxalt and the dedicated public servants of this office for the last four years, and I am eager to again represent the best client in the world—the United States of America.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
