Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PORTLAND, Ore.– The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today the departure of United States Attorney Natalie K. Wight.
Ms. Wight was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House. As a Presidential appointee, Ms. Wight is subject to removal from office at the discretion of the sitting President. The White House thanked her for her service to the United States.
A twenty-year veteran of the United States Department of Justice, Ms. Wight was recruited directly into the Attorney General’s Honors Program in 2003.
With the support of Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Ms. Wight was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on June 6, 2022, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 9, 2022.
“I am proud of the Office’s dedication to protecting Oregon’s youth, supporting law enforcement, and maintaining strong agency partnerships,” said former U.S. Attorney Wight. During her tenure, Ms. Wight focused on outreach to schools by educating students on the dangers of fentanyl, warning of online exploitation, and applauding the care and compassion of Oregon’s student leaders. This year, the district hosted its third Junior Justice Summit where student ambassadors from local high schools collaborated with civic leaders, public servants, and members of the law enforcement community to identify and achieve common goals to help keep kids safe and our neighborhoods thriving.
“I want to thank our Oregon communities and our exceptional public servants for helping to keep Oregon a safe and beautiful place to live,” said former U.S. Attorney Wight. “I am excited to watch the office’s continued success working with federal, state, county, local, and tribal agencies serving the people of Oregon. I am immensely proud to have worked side by side with such dedicated Oregonians.”
As United States Attorney, Ms. Wight was selected to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) as the Ninth Circuit representative. The AGAC advises the Attorney General and senior Department of Justice leadership on critical legal issues impacting the districts in each circuit. Ms. Wight served as liaison for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Civil Division while on the AGAC. She also served on the national subcommittees for Controlled Substances, Violent Crime, Child Exploitation, and Native American Issues.
There are thirty-six counties and nine tribal reservations in the District of Oregon. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Portland, Eugene, and Medford employ career attorneys and professional staff who are responsible for conducting all criminal prosecutions, collection of debts owed to the federal government, and civil litigation in the district involving the United States.
As provided for under the Vacancies Reform Act, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney now serves as the Acting U.S. Attorney.