President Donald Trump’s pick for the state’s next U.S. attorney has been sworn in.

Maine District Court judge Andrew Benson was appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on October 22nd, pending Senate confirmation, and was sworn in on the same date.

The confirmation occurred during the government shutdown, but the announcement was just released on Monday, with the federal government returning to regular operations.

Benson was nominated to the bench of the Maine District Court by Governor Paul LePage in 2014 and was re-nominated by Governor Janet Mills in 2021.  He was unanimously confirmed by the Maine State Senate after each nomination.

As U.S. Attorney, Benson is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the District of Maine and oversees a staff of 45 employees and contractors located in Portland and Bangor.

He was considered a conventional nominee for the position, which generally changes hands when a new President takes over the White House.

Benson was born in western Maine and grew up in Bethel, He attended the University of Maine at Orono and received an honors degree in German literature.  He then attended the University of Maine School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1988.