Eastern Washington’s top federal prosecutor’s office has new leadership — at least temporarily. On Tuesday morning, Pete Serrano was sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, pending official Senate confirmation. The longtime attorney, former Pasco mayor, and city councilmember will oversee federal prosecutions in a region spanning from the Cascades to the Idaho border.
Serrano, a familiar voice to many through his appearances on local radio, said the path to his appointment was a grassroots effort involving people from across Washington state. “I can’t tell you how many people emailed, mailed, or called the Trump administration saying, ‘We recommend this guy — he’s about the rule of law, justice, and the Constitution,’” Serrano recalled. He credited both average voters and political allies — including Congressman Joe Kent — for championing his name. “Obviously, someone somewhere got to the president’s ears or at least someone in his circle,” Serrano said, adding that from there it was “a couple of phone calls, some paperwork, and here we are.”
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with new US Attorney for Eastern Washington Pete Serrano
“We cannot have domestic terrorists running the streets rampant and controlling them… The Constitution is my guiding star. No one is above the rule of law, no matter what mask they wear.” pic.twitter.com/z81nEkFq6c
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) August 13, 2025
Although he hasn’t yet received formal “marching orders” from the Trump administration, Serrano says his priorities are already clear. Topping the list: the fentanyl crisis, which he describes as a devastating, nonpartisan threat to public safety. “It’s a problem throughout our state, and sadly it’s leaked over from Western into Eastern Washington,” Serrano said. He pledged an “all-of-the-above, throw-the-kitchen-sink” strategy — prosecuting not just low-level street dealers but also mid- and high-level traffickers, cartels, and anyone moving the deadly synthetic opioid into the region. Where applicable, he said, immigration status will also be part of enforcement: “If these folks don’t belong here, we’re going to have to deal with that too.”
Serrano also pointed to organized extremist groups like Antifa as a public safety concern. He made it clear that under his watch, “we cannot have individuals or groups that the president has classified as domestic terrorists running the streets rampant and controlling them.” He said he’s open to a range of legal tools, from local prosecutions to potential RICO cases, and would first focus on cleaning up Eastern Washington before expanding cooperation with other states and the Department of Justice headquarters. “It’s about shining the light, seeing where it reacts, and figuring out who else wants to get involved,” he said.
Another area where Serrano expects alignment with the Trump administration is in moving away from federally funded programs rooted in race-based diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. While acknowledging that the details are still to come, Serrano said he supports the president’s direction toward programs “beneficial to everyone” and away from “DEI issues” that, in his view, divide rather than unite.
Serrano stressed that his legal philosophy is anchored in the Constitution, fairness, and equal enforcement of the law. His past experience — from local governance in Pasco to his run for Washington State Attorney General — informs his belief that leadership must be both principled and pragmatic. “I think I’m the right fit for the office — not just my skill set, but my commitment to Eastern Washington,” Serrano said.
If confirmed, Serrano would officially succeed former U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. For now, as interim, he’s making it clear that Eastern Washington’s streets are “not for sale” and that he intends to protect the rights, livelihoods, and safety of its residents from both criminal and ideological threats. “This is what we need to do to protect our people,” Serrano said. “It’s not negotiable.”
