LA's Top Federal Prosecutor Among 46 Obama Appointees Asked to Step Down

LOS ANGELES, CA — The U.S. Justice Department Friday announced that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has asked dozens of remaining Obama-appointed U.S. attorneys -- including Los Angeles' top federal prosecutor Eileen Decker -- to step aside to make way for appointees of President Donald Trump.

Sessions wants ``to ensure a uniform transition" to the Trump administration, spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement.

``Until the new U.S. attorneys are confirmed, the dedicated career prosecutors in our U.S. attorney's offices will continue the great work of the department in investigating, prosecuting and deterring the most violent offenders," she said.

Decker's top deputy, Sandra Brown, is expected to become acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California until a replacement for Decker is chosen. The resignations are expected to take effect at midnight.

A spokesman for Decker declined comment.

The order affects 46 U.S. attorneys, while 47 others already have stepped aside.

Decker was appointed U.S. attorney for the Central District in 2015. She previously served as the deputy mayor for homeland security in Los Angeles, dealing with law enforcement and emergency response issues.

Decker also worked for almost 15 years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office.

During her tenure as the region's top federal law enforcement official, Decker authorized the prosecution of former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca on obstruction of justice charges, as well as cases stemming from the San Bernardino terror attack.

The Central District of California comprises the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. It serves about 19.6 million people -- nearly half the population of California.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock