Senate confirms Brian Moran as new Seattle U.S. attorney

SEATTLE — The U.S. Senate has confirmed Brian Moran, a former leader in the Washington attorney general’s office, to be the top federal prosecutor in Western Washington.

Moran, 59, will replace U.S. Attorney Annette Hayes.

“I’m truly humbled and honored,” he said in a phone interview. “I look forward to going back to public service in an office whose sole mission is to serve the citizens of the Western District.”

Moran supervised nearly 600 state lawyers as chief deputy attorney general from 2006 to 2013 under Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna. He helped develop the office’s legal strategy and policies, including on matters related to consumer protection, public records, data breach and unfair competition. He also worked with lawmakers on topics related to consumer protection, public records, public safety and criminal law.

Before that he served as the chief criminal prosecutor under Democratic Attorney General Chris Gregoire. He’s been involved in cases in all of Washington’s 39 counties and has participated in trials in more than two dozen of them.

When Democrat Bob Ferguson became attorney general in 2013, he tried to keep Moran on, but McKenna lured him to private practice.

Hayes took over the U.S. attorney’s office in 2014 when Jenny Durkan, now Seattle’s mayor, left for private practice.

President Donald Trump nominated Moran last May. Moran said he was grateful for the support of Democratic U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, but declined to discuss his priorities before being sworn in.

“His long record of service to Washington state as a state and county prosecutor demonstrates his strong commitment to protecting families from serious and often very complex crimes,” Murray said in an emailed statement Thursday. “Mr. Moran has earned a reputation for integrity and independence that will serve him well as the United States attorney for the Western District of Washington, and I wish him the best in this critically important position.”