HAGÅTÑA — Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo nominated Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco for the position of U.S. Attorney General for Guam and the CNMI, according to a confidential source.
The source said Bordallo submitted Limtiaco’s name to President Obama in June.
If Limtiaco passes her background check, is appointed by Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she will replace U.S. Attorney Leonard Rapadas.
Rapadas has been the U.S. attorney for Guam and the CNMI since May 2003.
Rapadas could not be reached for comment.
Eric Palacios, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was not available for comment either.
The Justice Department has already begun clearance procedures for Limtiaco which includes a detailed background check that takes months.
If Limtiaco clears the vetting process, it’s almost a guarantee that she will be nominated by the president, said the source.
Bordallo’s Guam District Office would not confirm the congresswoman’s submission of Limtiaco’s name and referred questions to the D.C. office, which ha yet to respond.
The U.S. attorney is appointed by the president of the United States for a term of four years, with appointments subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
A U.S. attorney can continue in office, beyond the appointed term, until a successor is appointed and qualified.
By law, each United States attorney is subject to removal by the president.
Although Guam and the CNMI are separate federal districts and political entities, one U.S. attorney is appointed to serve both districts.
