Wyoming Senate to vote on U.S. attorney pick

RIVERTON (WNE) — Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Darin Smith may button down a more permanent stint as the state’s top federal prosecutor, with an initial Senate confirmation vote scheduled for Monday morning. 

The critical confirmation process comes amid a growing list of felony suspects who have accused Smith of misconduct before a federal grand jury that convened to indict them in March. Attorneys for at least eight defendants – including an accused Wind River Reservation murderer – have asked federal judges to dismiss their charges altogether over Smith’s alleged misconduct. 

Smith was appointed last August by former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Wyoming’s top prosecutorial seat, but his full confirmation vote has been on hold for months. 

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his appointment last December included pushback from Senate Democrats, who alleged he was unqualified for the position and appointed, instead, as a loyalist to President Donald Trump.

Smith is an attorney who briefly served in the Wyoming Legislature. A New York Times opinion piece published late last month reported that he had never practiced criminal law or tried a case before his appointment, and rather, worked as a real estate planner for most of his legal career.

On Monday, the Senate is expected to cast a first vote to confirm Smith, along with other appointees, which will kick off potential debate on the Senate floor before a final vote. 

That final vote could occur as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. 

This story was published on May 8, 2026.