LAS VEGAS (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that Sigal Chattah, the Trump administration’s initial pick for U.S. attorney in Nevada, was unlawfully appointed to lead federal prosecutions in the state.
The decision Monday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marked another setback for Trump’s efforts to extend handpicked U.S. attorneys beyond a 120-day limit set by federal law. The strategy was designed to bypass confirmation by the U.S. Senate — something that generally requires a degree of bipartisan support.
Chattah has continued in the office under the title of first assistant U.S. attorney since a lower-court judge paused a ruling disqualifying her from overseeing several criminal prosecutions while the appeals process took place.
Earlier this year, the White House selected George Kelesis as a replacement, but he must still go through the Senate’s nomination process. Kelesis, a Las Vegas native, has been practicing law in the Silver State since 1981.
The administration’s decision to nominate Kelesis in February signaled its uncertainty regarding Chattah’s long-term position in the role after setbacks in similar cases across the country.
A longtime conservative attorney in Nevada, Chattah was appointed interim U.S. attorney in 2025 but never received Senate approval after staunch opposition from Nevada’s Democratic senators. Calling Chattah an extremist and an election denier, they vowed to block her if the administration sought to make the appointment permanent.
The Trump administration had maintained that Chattah was validly serving as the acting U.S. attorney and that she could continue to serve while Kelesis goes through the nomination process. Tyler Lee, an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, wrote to the appeals court that Chattah could also serve for 210 days after the nomination process concludes, if it results in a rejection, a withdrawal or a return of the nomination.
The day before her term was set to expire in July 2025, Chattah resigned. That same day, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed her first assistant U.S. attorney and said she had the authority to serve as acting U.S. attorney.
The administration attempted a similar maneuver for prosecutors Bill Essayli in California and Alina Habba in New Jersey. Courts ruled against it in both cases. Habba resigned in December after an appeals court decision went against her. In California, Essayli is still effectively acting as the top prosecutor with the title of first assistant U.S. attorney.
Four people in Nevada who Chattah’s office indicted on felony counts argued that Chattah was illegally serving in the role and sought either to have their cases dismissed or to have Chattah and lawyers working under her barred from the prosecution.
U.S. District Judge David Campbell disqualified Chattah from the cases last fall, saying she stayed in the temporary job longer than allowed by law. However, he stayed that ruling while the Department of Justice appealed.
Chattah, a former member of the Republican National Committee, has echoed Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. She represented one of six Nevada Republicans who attempted to preserve their right to challenge the official election by submitting certificates to Congress declaring Trump the winner of the state’s presidential vote that year. Kelesis also represents one of the Republicans in the case.
Nevada Judge Mary Kay Holthus recently dismissed Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford's case against the six Republicans, marking the latest so-called fake electors case to be dismissed. The judge found there was insufficient evidence to show the electors intended to deceive government officials.
Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen have met with Kelesis and are reviewing his nomination.
Kelesis’ expertise is in civil and criminal tax litigation. He serves as president of the Nevada Tax Commission and has been an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ law school.
FILE - Attorney Sigal Chattah appears in court in Las Vegas on March 4, 2024. (Wade Vandervort/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)
HOUSTON (AP) — Two decades ago, DeMeco Ryans and Gary and Klint Kubiak spent a lot of time together on the Houston Texans practice fields when Ryans was the team’s star linebacker and Klint’s dad coached the team.
On Tuesday, the three were all back on those same practice fields with Ryans coaching the Texans, Klint coaching Las Vegas and Gary looking on as Houston and the Raiders held a joint practice ahead of Thursday’s preseason game.
“It was real easy working with Klint,” Ryans said. “I’ve known Klint since he was a teenager when he was out here with his dad at practices… so just really cool talking to him, catching up. It was easy to schedule practice. Very like-minded in our approach to the game.”
Kubiak, who is in his first season as the Raiders’ coach, acknowledged Tuesday’s full circle moment but didn’t allow himself much time to think about it.
“It’s such a blessing to get to coach in the NFL and to come back here where my dad coached and where I saw so many practices it was a really cool feeling,” he said. “But very quickly erased all those feelings and just got right to practice. So, I’ll think of the warm and fuzzy stuff later.”
Also watching the two-hour practice in Houston was Raiders’ minority owner Tom Brady and Texans’ Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.
It was a big practice for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who got extensive work with the first-team offense against Houston’s starters.
“I wanted to see him going against the Texans 1s,” Kubiak said. “That was our plan all along. I thought he did some good things.”
Mendoza had a great long throw to Brock Bowers early in practice but also had an interception returned for a touchdown by Jalen Pitre.
“Overall, it was a positive day,” Mendoza said. “There were plays that I loved and plays that I wish I had back. But in reality, that’s a lie I don’t wish I had them back because it’s a growing experience.”
Houston star defensive end Will Anderson was impressed with Mendoza.
“A ton of respect for him,” Anderson said. “I loved his energy. I loved the way he was cheering his O-line on, cheering his team on. He’s going to be a really great quarterback in this league.”
Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins got plenty of work in too and also had an interception returned for a touchdown by a Houston defense that was among the best in the league last season.
“It was a good challenge,” he said. “You feel their rush. They do a good job pursuing and playing fast.”
There was a small dustup involving Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby and some Texans but other than that the teams got along Tuesday, which both coaches were thankful for.
“Overall, with joint practices, the main thing is you’re just trying to get work in and get each other better without it turning into a melee,” Kubiak said. “I thought our guys were very mature. “
The Texans had a good showing from their running backs on Tuesday with Ryans raving about their work after Woody Marks scored two touchdowns.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud was happy with the work of his team against the Raiders.
“It went great,” he said. “I thought we made a lot of plays. Of course there’s always things to clean up. We moved the ball very well, ran the ball great, threw the ball great. Overall we had a really good day.”
Las Vegas offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson didn’t practice Tuesday and Kubiak said he doesn’t expect him to play Thursday after he left Monday’s practice with an injury.
Houston receiver Jayden Higgins left practice Tuesday with an injury and Ryans said he was being evaluated for a leg injury.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud works out during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders at the NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) and quarterback Davis Mills (10) work out during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders at the NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) work out during a joint practice with the Houston Texans at the NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, left, talks with Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak during a joint practice at the NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
