California Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be the United States District Attorney for the Central District of California. Legacy media POLITICO has been known to show disdain for California Republicans. So, their attempt to get the confirmation scoop on this latest Trump appointment was greeted with radio silence from Essayli's office. Instead, Essayli chose to give the official confirmation to California Capitol correspondent Ashley Zavala of KCRA.
NEW: Assemblyman @billessayli confirmed to me tonight that President Trump tapped him to be the new U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. He starts tomorrow.
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) April 2, 2025
"My mission will be to restore law and order in a state where it's desperately needed," Essayli told me.
President Donald Trump has picked Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli to serve as the new U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Essayli exclusively confirmed to KCRA 3 on Tuesday night.
Essayli was just months into his second term as an Assemblyman representing Southern California when he got the call. Essayli confirmed he's resigning from the Assembly on Tuesday night and will start his new role leading the federal law enforcement division from Los Angeles on Wednesday.
"It's been an honor to represent the 63rd Assembly District in Sacramento," Essayli told KCRA 3 in a statement. "I look forward to serving as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California. My mission will be to restore law and order in a state where it's desperately needed."
Zavala also posted Essayli's official resignation letter on X, where he wasted no words.
Just In: @billessayli has officially resigned from the Assembly. He’ll be the new U.S. Attorney for the Central District of CA.
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) April 2, 2025
His letter to Speaker Robert Rivas is…to the point. pic.twitter.com/7yYOYUBdzy
But Essayli was effusive in his acceptance of the appointment, which he posted from his personal X account.
Assemblyman Bill Essayli Accepts Appointment to be United States Attorney for the Central District of California
— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) April 2, 2025
Assemblyman Bill Essayli has vacated his seat in the California State Assembly to accept the appointment to be the United States Attorney for the Central District of… pic.twitter.com/vHF3vnbBdB
Assemblyman Bill Essayli Accepts Appointment to be United States Attorney for the Central District of California
Assemblyman Bill Essayli has vacated his seat in the California State Assembly to accept the appointment to be the United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
"I am honored that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed their trust in me to serve as United States Attorney for the Central District of California. I intend to implement the President’s mission to restore trust in our justice system and pursue those who dare to cause harm to the United States and the People of our nation,” stated Bill Essayli.
“In just over two years, we have achieved major victories to restore common sense in Sacramento. When I joined the Assembly, parental rights, illegal immigration, and voter ID were peripheral issues; we’ve made them centerpieces of our Party. This past election we added true fighters and I am confident they will continue the important work needed in the Legislature to make Republicans start winning in California,” added Essayli.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California serves the seven counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. This includes a population of nearly 20 million people – the largest of any federal judicial district in the country. The role of the Office is to enforce the laws and defend the interests of the United States. It does so through three primary litigating Divisions: Criminal, National Security, and Civil.
Bravo to Essayli, and full congratulations on his appointment. Condolences to the County of Riverside as they are losing a quality representative who fought for his district and for Californians.
During Essayli's time in the assembly, he distinguished himself as both a truth-teller and a thorn in the side of the Democrat Supermajority, publicly exposing their hypocrisy, and unapologetic in challenging them on their lies. Essayli was such an irritant that Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) stripped him of a key committee assignment. In May of 2024, Essayli forced a vote on AB 2641, which would have ended sanctuary protections for criminal illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors. Democrats in the Public Safety Committee were refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote.
In June of 2024, Essayli almost came to blows with Assemblyman Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) when Jackson got up from his seat and attempted to charge at him as Essayli debated the AB1955 bill on the Assembly floor. The Democrats ultimately cut off Essayli's microphone. In February, Essayli even introduced a reparations bill to call Democrats on the carpet for their lip service to the concept of reparations without ever bringing legislation on the subject. On Tuesday, as one of his final acts in the Assembly, Essayli presented the "Save Girls Sports" bill (AB844), which sought to ban biological boys from competing in girl’s sports. Every Assembly Democrat voted NO.
Today Assembly Democrats doubled-down on their war against women and parental rights. Assembly Democrats are so committed to allowing biological boys into girls sports and locker rooms rather than protecting our daughters – the Speaker of the Assembly booted a Member from the… pic.twitter.com/uJ88qInwW2
— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) April 2, 2025
Today Assembly Democrats doubled-down on their war against women and parental rights. Assembly Democrats are so committed to allowing biological boys into girls sports and locker rooms rather than protecting our daughters – the Speaker of the Assembly booted a Member from the committee so he could personally oppose my bill.
The vast majority of Californians and Americans agree: keep boys out of girls sports. Assembly Democrats are radically out of touch with commonsense Californians and the voters will hold them accountable to restore justice and fairness in girls sports
As United States District Attorney and head of the largest U.S. Attorney's office in the country, representing around 20 million constituents, Essayli can be a much more effective advocate for the people of California. Before being elected to the California Assembly, Essayli served as an assistant U.S. prosecutor in the same U.S. Attorney's office he now will lead. In 2015, Essayli was at the center of the prosecution surrounding the San Bernardino terrorist attack.
Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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