In moments of crisis, silence is complicity. Right now, Californians face a quiet but dangerous escalation of far-right power – and his name is Bill Essayli.
A former right-wing assemblymember and former federal prosecutor under Donald Trump, Essayli is now the interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. But behind the title lies a troubling pattern: one of weaponizing public office to target immigrants, LGBTQ+ youth, labor leaders, environmental regulators, and political opponents. If confirmed to the position permanently, Essayli will gain unchecked power to enforce his biased vision of federal law across one of the most diverse and populous regions in the country.
We cannot allow that to happen. Under Senate tradition, California’s U.S. Senators can block this nomination by withholding their “blue slips”—a courtesy that allows home-state
Senators to approve or reject federal judicial and prosecutorial nominees. We are calling on Senators Padilla and Schiff to use their blue slips to stop this confirmation from moving forward.
A Dangerous Pattern of Abuse and Retaliation
Essayli’s nomination isn’t just controversial—it’s dangerous. Since taking over as interim U.S. Attorney, he’s already overturned a felony conviction of a sheriff’s deputy found guilty of excessive force—prompting a mass resignation from career prosecutors in protest.
Essayli has wielded federal power with unmistakable political intent. He filed conspiracy charges against SEIU California President David Huerta, a respected labor leader arrested during a peaceful civil disobedience action supporting hotel workers. Legal experts and civil rights groups widely condemned the charges as retaliatory and unprecedented. His office has also filed specious conspiracy charges against Alejandro Orellana of Centro CSO for nothing more than distributing face shields to protect protesters from LAPD’s rubber bullets.
In another disturbing episode, Essayli threatened the City of Santa Ana with federal
prosecution for upholding sanctuary city policies and protecting immigrant communities. His office issued warnings directly to city staff, attempting to force them to act as extensions of ICE or face legal consequences. These threats have had a chilling effect on local governance and public trust, especially in a city where immigrants make up a majority of residents.
More recently, Essayli’s office reportedly pressured the South Coast Air Quality Management District over a proposed rule to phase out natural gas appliances. It was a modest, evidence-based measure designed to reduce air pollution and childhood asthma. Instead of respecting the will of a local agency tasked with protecting public health, Essayli sent a message: if you try to govern in the public interest, you may be targeted.
This is not impartial law enforcement. It’s political warfare disguised as prosecution.
From Culture War to Courtroom
Before his federal appointment, Essayli served in the California State Assembly, where he made a name for himself attacking LGBTQ+ youth, public schools, and reproductive freedom. He introduced legislation to forcibly out trans students to their parents, rallied
against Pride events, and aligned himself with Christian nationalist and anti-government
figures.
Now, that same agenda has a federal platform and a prosecutorial office to enforce it.
The Senate Must Act
Using their blue slips, California’s Senators—Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff—can prevent this dangerous nomination from advancing and block Bill Essayli from gaining permanent federal power. If the Attorney General appoints an interim U.S. Attorney and no permanent replacement is confirmed within 120 days, the federal district court for that jurisdiction takes over and appoints someone to serve in the role until the vacancy is filled through Senate confirmation.
Senator Padilla has long fought to protect immigrant communities. Senator Schiff represents a state full of young people, working families, and vulnerable communities who deserve to live free from political intimidation. This is a moment for moral clarity—and both Senators must withhold their blue slips to stop this nomination in its tracks.
We Are Calling On Californians to Stop Bill Essayli
Stopping Bill Essayli’s confirmation is about defending the rule of law, protecting democratic institutions, and ensuring that federal power isn’t used to punish the very communities it should serve.
You can read more about Bill Essayli’s record here.
Send an email or make a call to Sens. Padilla and Schiff to demand that they do everything in their power to block a Senate confirmation of Bill Essayli. If you’re outside of California, call your U.S. Senators and ask them to block U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli’s confirmation if it comes to the Senate for a vote.
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Jacob Daruvala is the organizer of the Stop Essayli campaign. Zane Rice is a political
consultant advising the campaign. Learn more at stopessayli.org
