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Idaho U.S. Attorney To Resign After Six Years Under Obama

John Miller
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AP Images
U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson speaks to reporters on Friday, May 17, 2013 in front of the federal building in Boise, Idaho, following the initial arraignment hearing of Fazlidden Kurbanov. Kurbanov was indicted on terrorism-related charges.

Idaho U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson will resign at the end of February, after serving the district of Idaho for the last six years. She was sworn in by former President Barack Obama.

According to Idaho Reports, Olson says she is anticipating changes under President Donald Trump and wants to choose when she would leave her post. U.S. attorneys serve at the discretion of the president.

Olson will leave a legacy of defending civil rights in Idaho. Most recently, her office charged Kelly Schneider of Nampa with a federal hate crime for the murder of Steven Nelson – an openly gay man. Schneider pled guilty earlier this week to brutally beating Nelson to death in 2016.

The U.S. Attorney has also worked on several high-profile cases, including an investigation of the officer-involved shooting of Adams County rancher Jack Yantis and the terrorism case against Boise refugee Fazliddin Kurbanov.

Olson says she plans to stay in Boise and enter private practice.

Find Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill

Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio

Frankie Barnhill was the Senior Producer of Idaho Matters, Boise State Public Radio's daily show and podcast.

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