SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Washington will soon have a new U.S. Attorney. Former Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano was sworn in on Monday as interim attorney and will face a US Senate vote to take on the role permanently.
Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington will be at least one of the votes against the nominee, according to a statement provided to NonStop Local by her office.
“I won’t be voting to confirm anyone who wants to rewrite the history of the violent January 6th insurrection and criminalize women who get abortion care,” Senator Patty Murray said, “Washington state deserves better.”
As Interim United States Attorney, Serrano will supervise civil litigations and prosecution of federal crimes across 20 counties in Eastern Washington, including Spokane and Yakima counties.
Serrano founded a nonprofit law firm called “The Silent Majority Foundation” that focuses on civil rights cases on behalf of conservative organizations and causes.
Notably it’s the representation for Sean Feucht, a conservative musician and pastor who is suing the City of Spokane over an incident in August of 2023. At the time then Mayor Nadine Woodward joined Feucht and religious extremist Matt Shea on the stage for a prayer event.
This event took place during the devastating Gray and Oregon Road fires.
The liberal majority on the city council voted to condemn religious extremism after this event, prompting Feucht to argue his first amendment rights were violated.
That case hasn’t yet gone to trial and Serrano’s “Silent Majority Foundation” is still representing Feucht according to recent court filings from August.
The confirmation will go through a senate in which Republicans hold a majority, making Serrano’s confirmation likely.
