In 2018, Essayli ran for the California State Assembly against incumbent Democrat Sabrina Cervantes. He lost the election, but made a strong showing, which raised his local profile.
In 2022, Essayli ran for the state Assembly in the newly created 63rd Assembly District. He defeated Eastvale Mayor Clint Lorimore in the primary and businesswoman Fauzia Rizvi in the general election.
U.S. Attorney
In April 2025, U.S. Attorney GeneralPam Bondi appointed Essayli as interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.[3][4] The appointment was made under federal law allowing the Attorney General to fill vacancies without Senate confirmation for up to 120 days.[10] The district, headquartered in Los Angeles, encompasses seven counties and nearly 20 million residents, making it the largest federal judicial district.[11]
His appointment prompted pushback from Democratic officials and progressive organizations, culminating in the launch of Stop Essayli, a grassroots effort opposing his confirmation on grounds of alleged political retaliation and civil rights concerns.[12][13][14][15]
The Los Angeles Times reported that Essayli struggled to secure convictions at grand juries for charges he brought against protestors during the June 2025 Los Angeles protests. By July 23, federal prosecutors brought 38 felony cases against protestors but secured only seven indictments, with many being dismissed or reduced to misdemeanor charges. Three federal law enforcement officers reported to the Times that they overheard a speakerphone conversation in the vicinity of the grand jury room in which Essayli screamed at a prosecutor to ignore the department's Justice Manual and instead to secure indictments as directed by Pam Bondi. The reporting said Essayli's low number of indictments raised concerns among legal experts over the strength of the cases he was filing.[16]
Personal life
Essayli is the first Muslim in history to be elected to the California State Assembly.[6][17] Regarding his religious beliefs, he has stated "My religion drives my moral compass, but it's not everything that I am. I'm an American that happens to be Muslim."[18]
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