President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Fox News contributor Leo Terrell as senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, a role being filled by Harmeet K. Dhillon, herself a former vice chair of the California GOP, who has also represented the state as a member of the Republican National Committee.
“I am pleased to announce that Leo Terrell will be Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “He will work alongside Harmeet K. Dhillon, a fellow Californian, and our incredible Nominee for United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Justice Department.”
“Leo is a highly respected civil rights attorney and political analyst. He received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and has defended many high profile cases throughout his incredibly successful career. Leo will be a fantastic advocate for the American People, and ensure we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump added.
BREAKING: Trump taps Leo Terrell for Senior Counsel to the Assistant AG for Civil Rights in the DOJ pic.twitter.com/oviHIM40er
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) January 10, 2025
Terrell appeared on Sean Hannity’s program on Wednesday, where he attributed the devastating fires affecting neighborhoods around Los Angeles to the Democrats and the voters who continue to elect them despite a growing list of issues in the state. “You got a city fire chief who thinks DEI is the number one issue!” he said. “It’s insulting! And you know what? I blame the voters and I blame the media here! Sean, you think national media’s biased? The local media in California kiss the ring of the Democrat party! They do nothing! They don’t ask the right questions.”
Trump has selected several Fox News hosts and contributors to become members of his administration, per Mediaite:
Nominations have included former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, Fox News contributor and Fox Business host Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation, former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general, former Fox News contributor Dr. Marty Makary for head of the Food and Drug Administration, and former general-turned-Fox News contributor Keith Kellogg for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.
Trump has also tapped Tammy Bruce, a longtime Fox News contributor, as the next spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. “It is my great honor to announce that Tammy Bruce will be joining our incredible Nominee for United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State,” Trump said in a statement.
“Tammy is a highly respected political analyst who understood the power and importance of ‘MAGA’ early on. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Southern California and, after being a liberal activist in the 1990s, saw the lies and fraud of the Radical Left, and quickly became one of the strongest Conservative voices on Radio and Television,” he added.