Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada Sigal Chattah has yet to publicly resign her position as the state’s Republican national committeewoman and was introduced virtually at a state party meeting Saturday, potentially violating Department of Justice rules against its employees participating in political activities.

Chattah — sworn in as the interim U.S. attorney Tuesday — has served as Nevada’s national committeewoman to the Republican National Committee (RNC) since early 2023, a role that lets her elect party leadership, attend party meetings and vote on budget proposals and resolutions. The role also makes her a voting member on the Nevada GOP’s executive committee.

At the Nevada Republican Party’s spring meeting in Carson City on Saturday, Chattah was listed on the agenda as the national committeewoman and due to give a report. By the Nevada Republican Central Committee’s bylaws, a vacancy in an elected officer position must be filled via election at the committee’s next meeting, and there was no indication Saturday that a new committeewoman would be elected.

Chattah did not physically attend the meeting, but as she was set to present a report, she called in and was introduced by party Chair Michael McDonald as the U.S. attorney for the state of Nevada to roaring applause, according to two Indy reporters who were at the meeting. 

The reporters, who were not allowed into the meeting room but witnessed the interaction through an open door, only saw McDonald refer to Chattah as U.S. attorney as he was showing her to the crowd on his phone before the door closed. They did not observe her speaking, and were then told they would be physically removed from a public lobby if they did not leave.

Chattah is also still listed on the RNC’s and state party’s website as the national committeewoman from Nevada.

Although appointed by the president, U.S. attorneys are expected to maintain the neutral and impartial stance that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has historically embraced, “without the actual or apparent influence of political agendas.” Political appointees to the department are restricted in the political activity they can undertake, according to department rules. 

All federal employees are subject to the Hatch Act, which prevents them from engaging in partisan activities while in their official job capacity or on federal property. 

Political appointees have a higher standard that they must adhere to. DOJ rules explicitly prohibit political appointees from serving as an officer of a political party, a member of a national, state or local committee of a political party or addressing a gathering of a political party. 

Chattah’s continued participation as an RNC officer would seemingly violate those rules.

Past U.S. attorneys in Nevada have left partisan positions after taking office — Jason Frierson left his Assembly seat after being appointed by President Joe Biden, and Nick Trutanich was previously chief of staff to state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a Republican.

The Indy made numerous efforts this week to find evidence of any resignation by Chattah, but the U.S. attorney’s office, Chattah, the RNC and Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald have not returned multiple requests asking whether Chattah had resigned. 

Chattah’s term as national committeewoman does not expire until 2027. Her interim appointment to the U.S. attorney’s office can only last 120 days without Senate confirmation. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have already expressed vehement opposition to Chattah’s appointment.

Under Trump, the Department of Justice has become more expressly political, upending years of independent precedent. And Trump has placed political appointees — rather than career officials — in charge of enforcing ethics rules, meaning they may be more selectively applied.