Adam Gordon from La Jolla has been appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for the San Diego region. His political contributions in 2024 included a notable $2,000 donation to Donald Trump.
As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Gordon, who has been serving as an assistant U.S. attorney, to fill the position left by Tara McGrath, among others, who were dismissed by Trump.
On Friday afternoon, Gordon was officially sworn in by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Cynthia A. Bashant. To remain in this position permanently, he must be nominated by Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
In his statement, Gordon expressed gratitude towards Trump and Bondi, stating, “I am deeply honored to lead this office and protect the people of this district. For too long, criminal organizations have exploited the chaos at our border. That chaos of criminality and lack of consequences cannot prevail.”
He outlined his intention to work closely with law enforcement partners to prioritize Operation Take Back America, focusing on securing the border, prosecuting cartel leaders, and removing dangerous offenders from communities.
At 43 years old, Gordon has previously worked as a San Diego County deputy district attorney from 2009 to 2014. In 2017, he sought appointment from the county Board of Supervisors to be interim district attorney following the resignation of Bonnie Dumanis.
According to the U-T, Gordon, who joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2019, has yet to hold a supervisory role. However, he was recently appointed as the opioid coordinator, responsible for leading prosecutions of fentanyl dealers whose products have led to overdose deaths.
Former U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer praised Gordon, describing him as a “terrifically talented trial lawyer — organized, ethical and hard working.” Brewer added that Gordon is “a terrific prosecutor and leader… (and) one of the best hires I made.”
In addition to his contribution to Trump, Adam Alexander Gordon has also made donations to various political figures, including $250 to Texas Senator Ted Cruz in June 2024, and $1,200 to the 2020 Golden State Delegation, a conservative political action committee, according to opensecrets.org.
In 2015, Gordon donated $300 to Maverick PAC, which is identified as “the premier national network for conservative young professionals” aiming to build a pragmatic conservative future for America.
Gordon graduated from Harvard University in 2004, where he played as a wide receiver on the varsity football team, listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. He hails from Rancho Santa Fe and previously attended the prestigious Groton School in Massachusetts.
His achievements at Harvard included receiving the Francis H. Burr Scholarship Prize and the Patrick C. Melendez Award, as noted in a biography from his former employer, Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek.
At Seltzer, he specialized in litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense/Government Investigations. As a deputy district attorney, Gordon worked in several units, including the Central Pre-Trial Unit, Gang Unit, East County Branch, and Superior Court Division, and has successfully tried 30 cases to jury verdict.
His career began on the trial team responsible for successfully prosecuting one of the murderers of Oceanside Police Officer Dan Bessant. Gordon rose through the ranks, taking on significant responsibilities such as leading jury trials in serious cases, including premeditated attempted murder, gang violence, and robbery.
Additionally, he defended a foreign business executive charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in connection with the “Fat Leonard” U.S. Navy bribery scandal.
As of now, neither Gordon nor his San Diego office have responded to requests for comments on his new appointment.
This story was updated at 3:02 p.m. on April 11, 2025.
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