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Community Leaders Launch Urgent Campaign to Block Bill Essayli’s Confirmation as U.S. Attorney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INLAND EMPIRE, CA – 6/4/2025 – Today, local leaders and advocates announced the launch of the Stop Essayli Campaign, urging Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff to use their “blue slip” veto authority to prevent Bill Essayli’s confirmation as U.S. Attorney for California’s Central District.
Bill Essayli, who previously served as a California Assemblymember representing Riverside and Corona, has a well-documented record of aligning himself with extremist, far-right movements. Throughout his legislative tenure, Essayli pushed divisive and harmful legislation targeting LGBTQ youth and immigrant communities, while embarrassing himself on the assembly floor with inflammatory rhetoric and disruptive conduct. His recent appointment as interim U.S. Attorney by the Trump Administration has already raised alarms, notably through his unprecedented intervention to reverse the felony conviction of an L.A. County sheriff’s deputy convicted of excessive force, resulting in resignations from senior federal prosecutors.
“Bill Essayli represents a clear danger to the impartial administration of justice,” said Jacob Daruvala, organizer of the campaign. “He has openly embraced extremist causes, defended January 6 insurrectionists, and demonstrated he will abuse his position for partisan ends. We call on Senators Padilla and Schiff to protect California communities by blocking his confirmation.”
The campaign emphasizes the “blue slip” tradition in the Senate, which allows home-state senators to effectively veto federal prosecutor nominees who present substantial concerns, such as Bill Essayli. Senator Chuck Schumer recently utilized this procedural tool to block two U.S. Attorney nominees in New York.
Kristi Hirst, Co-founder of Our Schools USA, said, “Bill Essayli spent his short career in the Legislature with a singular agenda: to attack the students and families he was supposed to serve. He is laser focused on pushing Trump’s agenda, not seeking justice. We need people who will fight for America’s families, not attack them.”
Local immigrant rights advocate Alan Vargas said, “Essayli’s so-called ‘Operation Guardian Angel’ has already terrorized immigrant families in the Inland Empire. He used federal power to target working people because of their immigration status, ripping parents away from children. Confirming him would double down on this injustice. We need our Senators to stand with immigrant communities and refuse to enable his extremist agenda.”
“As a parent with an LGBTQ child, I am horrified by Essayli’s antics at school board meetings—pushing parents to turn children against their own identities,” said Tami Friedrich. “He even tried to strip away transgender students’ rights in a last-minute legislative tantrum. Entrusting him with the power to decide who goes to jail or who is prosecuted is unconscionable. Our Senators must step in now and refuse his nomination—they owe it to every child in our district.”
The Stop Essayli Campaign will mobilize community actions, legislative meetings, and a public awareness effort to urge Senators Padilla and Schiff to withhold their blue slips, preventing Essayli’s nomination from advancing.Californians are encouraged to join the campaign and take immediate action by visiting https://StopEssayli.org.
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Contact:
Jacob Daruvala
Campaign Director
[email protected]
StopEssayli.org
What You Can Do
Take Four Small Actions to Make a Big Impact: Act Today!
Every voice counts. Sign the petition, attend a rally, or help spread the word. Together, we can stop this nomination—and send a message that justice isn’t for sale.
Email Senators Padilla and Schiff today. Urge them to block Bill Essayli’s nomination and defend Californians from partisan abuse, prosecutorial overreach, and threats to democracy.
Speak out in your local paper. Share why Essayli’s record—targeting LGBTQ+ youth, attacking voting rights—makes him unfit for federal office. Public pressure works.
Add your name to the growing chorus opposing Essayli’s nomination. We must stop the weaponization of justice before it becomes a permanent feature of government.
Make a quick call to demand action. Tell Padilla and Schiff: Bill Essayli endangers civil rights, targets communities, and cannot be trusted with federal power.
Let our voice be heard!
Who Are We
We Are California
We are LGBTQ+ families, teachers, veterans, students, civil rights advocates, and everyday Californians who believe in justice that protects—not punishes. We come from every corner of the state, united by one truth: Bill Essayli’s nomination threatens the people and principles we care about. Our voices are diverse, but our message is clear—California stands for fairness, dignity, and democracy. And we will not be silent.
This isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting our communities, our rights, and the rule of law. We can’t afford to stay silent.
Act Now for a Better World
The fight for justice needs all of us. Join the movement to block this dangerous nomination and show that Californians won’t back down when our rights are at risk.
In 2024, only 35% of Americans expressed confidence in the nation’s judicial system and courts, marking a record low.
When the Attorney General appoints an interim U.S. Attorney to fill a vacancy, that individual may serve for a maximum of 120 days before US Senate must confirm.
The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People reported that 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year,
There are 93 U.S. Attorneys who are the chief federal law enforcement officers in their districts, with sole discretion over whether to pursue or drop federal charges—including civil rights cases, protest-related prosecutions, and political corruption.
Welcome to Stop Essayli! We’re building a movement to defend justice, protect civil rights, and stop the abuse of prosecutorial power. Our courts must serve the people—not political agendas. Together, we can stop this dangerous nomination and stand up for democracy.