From a cold dismissal of Kash Patel to a stunning turnaround: Jeanine Pirro quietly ascends into Donald Trump’s inner power circle

Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro refused a job working under Kash Patel as Deputy Director of the FBI before she landed the role of Attorney for Washington D.C.

The firebrand judge risked drawing President Trump’s ire late last year when she snubbed the role because she had ‘no interest’ in working for Patel, two administration sources told The New York Times.

Patel was appointed to the top job despite his limited legal experience and outspoken distrust of the FBI, drawing widespread criticism and raising questions about whether he was equipped for the job.

Jeanine Pirro, former Fox News host, confirmed as top federal prosecutor |  KTVU FOX 2

The role Pirro turned down ultimately went to Dan Bongino, a podcaster and former Secret Service agent who has been a leading proponent in voicing several MAGA conspiracy theories.

Then in May, Pirro was asked to step in as interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia after Trump’s first pick for the role – longtime conservative activist, podcast host, and recent defender of January 6th rioters Ed Martin – failed to secure support from enough Senate Republicans to proceed with his confirmation.

By August 3 she had been sworn into the role on a permanent basis.

In the meantime, Patel and Bongino have been under immense pressure following a decision by Attorney General Pam Bondi to not release the Epstein files and mass departures at the agency.

Pirro has worked tirelessly to bring to life Trump’s crime crackdown in the capitol.

The firebrand judge risked drawing President Trump’s ire late last year when she snubbed the role because she had ‘no interest’ in working for Patel

Then in May, Pirro was tapped to step in as interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia

By August 3 she had been sworn into the role on a permanent basis

Pirro celebrated Trump’s recent decision to deploy the National Guard and federalize D.C. police, noting crime in the city is ‘out of control.’

‘I see too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the hell out of you,’ Pirro said alongside Trump this week.

WATCH: Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro sworn in as interim U.S. attorney  for DC in ceremony | PBS News

Trump announced plans to take over D.C. after a young man who was working for DOGE was ‘very badly hurt’ and ‘beat up by a bunch of thugs in D.C.’

The identity of the 19-year-old man involved in the reported incident was Edward Coristine, famously nicknamed ‘Big Balls’ by his peers.

‘Here’s what the president is going to do. He’s going to make a difference. We’re going to change the laws,’ Pirro told Fox this week.