Trump appoints Kelesis as U.S. attorney as Chattah fights disqualification before Ninth Circuit
Trump appoints Kelesis as U.S. attorney as Chattah fights disqualification before Ninth Circuit By: Dana Gentry February 12, 2026 2:28 pm A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is deciding whether to uphold U.S. District Judge David Campbell’s disqualification of Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah’s participation in prosecutions, and whether Campbell erred by not dismissing criminal indictments prosecuted by Chattah in her acting role. Attorney George Kelesis. (Nevada Department of Taxation. The hearing comes a day after President Donald Trump appointed Las Vegas attorney George Kelesis to the post, pending Senate confirmation. The “hearing was not moot,” Chattah said via text. She did not respond when asked if she intended to remain in the office as first assistant U.S. attorney, a title she adopted after Campbell disqualified her from supervising prosecutors. Long and winding road Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Chattah in March 2025 as interi...