US Attorney for District of Idaho leaves office. Here’s who will take over
Josh Hurwit left his position Friday as the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, after spending the last couple of years focusing on issues including civil rights and hate crimes, fentanyl and COVID-19 fraud, according to a news release.
It’s typical for political appointees to leave at the beginning of a new presidential administration, the release said. Hurwit was nominated by former President Joe Biden in 2022, according to previous Statesman reporting.
“I’ve enjoyed every day of it,” Hurwit, 44, told the Statesman by phone Saturday. “It will be an adjustment to not be in the role, but personally, I’m always looking forward to the next challenge.”
Hurwit worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Idaho between 2012 and his confirmation, the release said, and plans to stay in Boise. The First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Justin Whatcott, will be the acting U.S. Attorney in the meantime, he said.
In his role, Hurwit said it was important to him to “enforce the rule of law” in all parts of the state, including more rural areas. The office assigned a prosecutor to be the lead person in the Magic Valley, he said.
“I was on the road a lot,” Hurwit said. “I made it to 40 of 44 counties to meet with partners.”
He also spent time on civil rights in hate crimes, as part of a nationwide initiative to make people feel more comfortable reporting incidents, even if what happened wasn’t actually against the law.
“I don’t think Idaho necessarily has, statistically speaking, a more significant problem with hate crimes,” Hurwit said. “But we do see various forms of hate in Idaho, some lawful, some that turns into violence which becomes a federal crime.”
For now, he’ll take some time off. Hurwit said he expects the office will continue partnering with local law enforcement.
While there’s a lot of focus on federal employees and the Department of Justice right now, Hurwit said, he added that he couldn’t speak highly enough about the people in his office.
Seven federal prosecutors resigned this week after a request to dismiss a case against New York Mayor Eric Adams so he could focus on immigration enforcement, according to CNN and CNBC. The Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss Friday.
“(The people in his office) do this job, not because it’s lucrative, not because it gives any sort of notoriety to them,” Hurwit said. “They do it because they believe in our Constitution and they believe in doing things the right way.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2025 at 2:14 PM.
