US Attorney General Names Brad Schimel as First Assistant US Attorney for Wisconsin

Madison, Wis.: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Brad Schimel as the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, allowing him to continue overseeing federal cases in the state despite his recent removal as interim U.S. attorney. The move comes as Senate Democrats delay confirmation votes for President Donald Trump’s nominees across multiple districts.

Schimel, who initially served as interim U.S. attorney from November, was set to have his term expire this week after federal judges opted not to extend it. Bondi’s new appointment enables him to maintain operational leadership at the Milwaukee U.S. Attorney’s office. Schimel expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating he will continue working to strengthen public safety across the district.

The appointment reflects a wider trend in U.S. attorney offices nationwide, where many districts remain led by interim, acting, or first assistant attorneys due to slow Senate confirmations. Currently, only 30 of the 94 federal judicial districts have U.S. attorneys confirmed by the Senate.

A Republican, Schimel earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and has previously served as Waukesha County district attorney and Wisconsin attorney general. After losing re-election as attorney general in 2018, he was appointed a Waukesha County judge and also ran unsuccessfully for the state Supreme Court last year.

The decision has drawn contrasting political reactions. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin criticized Schimel as a partisan figure, calling for leadership focused on upholding the rule of law. Republican Senator Ron Johnson defended him, calling the judges’ decision not to extend his interim term “bizarre” and endorsing his continued leadership of the Milwaukee office.