Fresno City Council candidate Rob Fuentes resigns as assistant US attorney amid criticism

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno City Council candidate Rob Fuentes has resigned from his position as an assistant U.S. attorney following increasing calls for his resignation from members of the public who said his work conflicted with his campaign platform.

Fuentes, who is running for the District 1 seat on the Fresno City Council, faced criticism after it became public that he had been assigned to defend Immigration and Customs Enforcement in several cases while campaigning on the position that ICE should be abolished.

Fuentes has denied ever arguing any of those cases.

He now says he was pushed out by the Trump administration.

In a statement to Action News, Fuentes said, "I was placed on admin leave one day after my criticisms of ICE were made public, with the expectation that I'd be fired. I saved them the trouble and resigned."

Fuentes also addressed his campaign and priorities moving forward: "I'm ready to roll up my sleeves to fight to lower the cost of living and build safer, stronger, healthier neighborhoods for our District 1 community."

Fuentes also serves as president of the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees and said he plans to remain in that role.