WASHINGTON DC (October 8, 2025) — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today welcomed the confirmation of David Waterman to be the US Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and Leif Olson to be the US Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
As Judiciary Chairman, Grassley successfully shepherded Waterman and Olson’s nominations through the committee and the full Senate, despite Democrat efforts to block the confirmation of executive nominees, including many — like Waterman — who received bipartisan support in committee.
The Judiciary Committee advanced Waterman’s nomination by a vote of twenty/two. Olson’s nomination was advanced in the Judiciary Committee by a vote of twelve/two. Waterman and Olson were confirmed by the full Senate as part of a larger nominations package, by a vote of 51-47.
“After months of unprecedented Democrat obstruction, Republicans successfully confirmed Iowa’s highly-qualified US Attorney nominees. Mr Waterman and Mr Olson will help keep Iowans safe and faithfully serve our great state with honor and distinction,” Sen Grassley said.
“Iowa needed its top federal law enforcement officials in place, and Senate Republicans delivered.”
“I am proud to see Iowans David Waterman and Leif Olson confirmed as the US Attorney for Iowa’s Southern and Northern Districts,” Sen Ernst said.
“They have both served our state and nation selflessly, and I am thankful for Sen Grassley’s work to move these nominations forward, so they can continue to work diligently for Iowans.”
Background:
David Waterman is a fifth-generation attorney at Lane and Waterman LLP in Davenport. Previously, he served as an Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) in the Appellate and Criminal Divisions of the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Prior to serving as an AUSA, Waterman gained federal court experience clerking on the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the US District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Iowa.
Leif Olson is Iowa’s Chief Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General Brenna Bird. Previously, he oversaw the Attorney General of Texas’ Special Litigation Division, served as a senior policy advisor for the US Department of Labor and gained courtroom experience as a trial and appellate lawyer.
