Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, announced his resignation ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Williams, who was appointed by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden in 2021, will step down on December 13 to allow Edward Kim, his current deputy, to take over as acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Williams has built a reputation for securing convictions in high-profile cases, including those involving crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried and former billionaire financier. He also led efforts to combat public corruption, convicting New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez on charges of fraud and foreign agent representation.
President-elect Trump plans to nominate Jay Clayton to lead the office, but Williams praised his career attorneys for their independence, saying they are “patriots” who acted with integrity. The transition has raised concerns about the potential impact of a new administration on prosecutorial independence and the impartiality of the Justice Department.
Kim, who will take over as acting U.S. attorney, has an unusual degree of independence from the U.S. Justice Department, known for bringing major financial fraud and public corruption cases. Williams’ departure marks a significant change in leadership for the office, which has faced controversy under previous administrations.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/manhattans-top-federal-prosecutor-resign-ahead-trump-inauguration-2024-11-25