U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces departure from U.S. Attorney’s Office

Seattle – U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced that he will leave his post as U.S. Attorney on February 28, 2021.  Mr. Moran plans to return to the private practice of law.  

Today the Department of Justice asked each presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney to resign by February 28, 2021.  DOJ will name an interim U.S. Attorney to serve until a new presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Attorney Moran was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney and was sworn into office on January 17, 2019.  Mr. Moran led the office during a particularly tumultuous two years, taking office during the longest-ever government shutdown and steering the office during an unprecedented global pandemic.

In his resignation statement, Mr. Moran said, “I want to thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for supporting my nomination during the confirmation process.  It has been my experience as U.S Attorney that, regardless of how and from where we approached it, local, state, and federal officials in the Western District of Washington have and will continue to find common ground on public safety and advancing the cause of justice.  

Above all, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office and the federal law enforcement community.  I remain inspired by their dedication to the people they serve, and I am deeply humbled to have been their colleague.”    

Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez commended the working relationship he forged with the U.S. Attorney saying, “Brian Moran was a superb United States Attorney in the Western District of Washington who continued the great tradition we have always enjoyed of having professional, non-partisan prosecutors as our U.S. Attorneys.”

During his time as U.S. Attorney, Moran focused on strategies to reduce gun violence, stem the flow of deadly fentanyl and other opioids into Western Washington, and encouraged the prosecution of hate crimes and neo-Nazi conspirators such as “Atomwaffen.”  Moran reached out to our tribal partners to work on improving community safety in our tribal communities.  Mr. Moran led a team of federal investigators and Assistant United States Attorneys who are working to recover funds stolen in massive frauds on the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Ray Duda served as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Seattle during Mr. Moran’s tenure.  “The leadership and the passion for the rule of law exhibited by Brian Moran during his tenure as U.S. Attorney, and throughout his many roles in public service, are to be admired.  As a citizen of the Western District of Washington, I was honored to have him as our senior law enforcement official and know that our communities are safer because of his leadership.”

U.S. Attorney Moran worked closely with attorneys focused on protecting civil rights and particularly in the area of enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the year of its 30^th anniversary.  Meeting with those impacted by the work of the Department of Justice was especially impactful.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis commended U.S. Attorney Moran for steadfast leadership.  “During Brian Moran’s tenure, he was extremely dedicated to enforcing the rule of law, but what really set him apart was his compassion and empathy towards those unfortunate individuals caught in the grip of addiction.  He routinely met with the families who lost loved ones and championed highlighting their plight by continually pushing this important messaging to highest levels of the Department of Justice.  The DEA wishes U.S. Attorney Moran the best in his next endeavors, he has been a true leader and will be greatly missed by law enforcement.” 

Brian Moran previously served as Chief Deputy Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General.  Prior to his selection as the Chief Deputy, Mr. Moran served as the Chief Criminal Prosecutor for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.  As Chief Criminal Prosecutor, he and his staff assisted Washington’s 39 county prosecuting attorneys’ offices, pursuing criminal cases and civil commitment of sexually violent predators.