Rhode Island’s top federal prosecutor resigned on Monday, citing a request from the Trump administration to leave the post.
In a Feb. 17 press release, Zachary Cunha ’98, the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, wrote that he had submitted a letter of resignation to the Justice Department and White House earlier this month.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom has taken over as Acting US Attorney for R.I., according to the office’s website.
“It has been the honor of my career to do this job,” Cunha wrote in the release. Cunha, who previously led the office’s civil division, was tapped by then President Joe Biden in September 2021 for the post. Cunha was a former columnist for The Herald.
“I am deeply grateful to Senators Reed and Whitehouse for recommending my nomination to the White House, and to President Biden for his trust and confidence in appointing me to serve this extraordinary District and its citizens as United States Attorney,” Cunha wrote.
Despite ongoing upheaval at the Justice Department, Trump’s request for Cunha’s resignation falls in line with precedent. Recently inaugurated presidents typically ask all U.S. Attorneys to resign at the start of the new administration.
“Mr. Cunha served Rhode Islanders honorably, and I am grateful for his principled dedication to the law,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, wrote in a statement sent to The Herald.
“Mr. Cunha is an outstanding public servant. His record, integrity and commitment to justice is unwavering and speaks for itself,” Senator Jack Reed, also a Democrat, wrote in a post on X.
In the press release announcing his departure, Cunha said that the office had “punched far above the weight that our compact geography and small staff might imply” during his tenure.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ethan Schenker is a university news editor covering staff and student labor. He is from Bethesda, MD, and plans to study International and Public Affairs and Economics. In his free time, he enjoys playing piano and clicking on New York Times notifications.
