Oregon Interim US Attorney Named, Search Continues For Permanent

PORTLAND, OR — As Oregon waits on the White House to name a new permanent United States Attorney for the state, a "new" interim US Attorney has been named. "New" because the interim has been serving as acting since February.

Scott Erik Asphaug, a 16-year veteran of the Justice Department, received the bump in his status on Monday in an announcement from Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Asphaug had been acting US Attorney since February when then-US Attorney Billy Williams submitted his resignation to the then-new Biden Administration.

Asphaugh has deep ties to the area that go beyond his work as Acting US Attorney. He was the Senior Assistant and Deputy Counsel in Multnomah County, he was the advisory lawyer for the Multnomah County Sheriff and worked for the Portland Police Association representing officers.

"It is a privilege to serve Oregonians as U.S. Attorney and I look forward to continuing to do so for the next four months or until the confirmation of Oregon’s next presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney," Asphaug said.

"During this time of transition, our office continues to focus intently on our ongoing mission of protecting the safety and wellbeing of all Oregonians."

Oregon's two senators – Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – have submitted a list of three candidates for the permanent job to the White House:

Craig Gabriel, currently an assistant U.S. attorney and chief of the office's criminal division;

Vivek Kothari, a former assistant U.S. Attorney in Atlanta and currently an associate in the Portland law firm of Markowitz Herbold; and

Natalie Wright, the head of the organized and violent crime section of the Oregon's U.S. Attorney Office.

There is no timeline for the White House to make a permanent choice for the job.