July 14, 2022 3:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, Scott Erik Asphaug announced that effective this Sunday, he will step down as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon, said Asphaug will become the Justice Department’s Resident Legal Advisor in Nairobi, Kenya, where he will be detailed to the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training to work with Kenyan counterparts on justice sector issues.

Marco A. Hernandez, Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Oregon announced that he will appoint Natalie K. Wight to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon in an interim capacity pending her confirmation to the position by the U.S. Senate. On June 6th, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. nominated Wright to serve as Oregon’s next Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney to replace Billy J. Williams, who resigned in February 2021.

Asphaug, a 17-year veteran of the Department of Justice, has served as U.S. Attorney for the district of Oregon since February 2021. Prior to that, he held several leadership positions in the District of Oregon including First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney.