Trump selects West Greenwich councilman Calenda for interim U.S. Attorney

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A new interim U.S. Attorney has been appointed by the Trump administration for the DOJ’s Rhode Island office.

Charles Calenda will lead the Rhode Island office for 120 days with the White House not yet selecting a nominee to permanently take the job.

Calenda ran for Rhode Island Attorney General in 2022 and filed to run in the upcoming 2026 election for the office.

He has not offered comment on whether his interim role would change his decision to seek the AG seat.

Calenda resigned his West Greenwich Town Council seat Friday.

The selection of Calenda has been panned by both U.S. senators representing Rhode Island.

Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse accused Trump of shutting them out of the process to bring a nominee forward.

Senator Whitehouse said in part:

Despite good-faith efforts at a bipartisan nomination process with the Trump White House, the MAGA Department of Justice insisted on a MAGA stooge with neither the qualifications nor temperament for this position.

Senator Reed commented on the selection, in part:

Rhode Islanders deserve a capable U.S. Attorney who can serve them long-term.