Federal prosecutors responded Wednesday to public defenders’ challenge of acting U.S. attorney Sigal Chattah’s appointment, asserting that Chattah “is validly serving.”

Even if Chattah was not legitimately serving as acting U.S. attorney, “she would be fully authorized, by delegation, to supervise criminal prosecutions in Nevada” because the attorney general gave her another title, “special attorney,” suggested the prosecutors’ filing, which bears Chattah’s name and that of Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Flake.

Chattah — who has a history of public controversy — has been in office since April but has not been nominated for the U.S. attorney role. She first served as interim U.S. attorney and then took on the acting title in July a day before her interim appointment would have expired.

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