The federal prosecutor Sen. Robert Menendez, who oversaw the convictions of Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, said Monday he will resign as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York next month.
“It’s an honor to serve the American people,” said Damian Williams, who also oversaw the prosecutions of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs. December 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Williams, the the first black man holding the prestigious and powerful post, was a veteran of the office and was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021. Newly elected President Donald Trump has already announced his intention to replace him.
The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, once headed by Rudy Giuliani, handles some of the most complex and high-profile criminal cases in the country, including government corruption, securities fraud and terrorism cases.
During Williams’ tenure, Menendez, a longtime Democratic senator from New Jersey, was prosecuted. bribery charges; FTX CEO Bankman-Fried on charges of fraud; and Maxwell sex trafficking charges.
Among those awaiting trial is Adams bribery and wire fraud charges and Combs one series of charges this includes sex trafficking and racketeering. Both pleaded not guilty.
Williams was also overseeing a case involving an Iranian assassination plot then candidate Trump earlier this year.
In his statement, Williams called the decision to resign “painful”.
“It is bitter in that sense that I have to leave my dream job, to lead an institution that I love, which is full of the best civil servants in the world. As I leave the office at an incredibly high level of performance, I am confident that I will maintain and exceed its already high standard of excellence, integrity and independence,” he said.
Edward Y. Kim, Williams’ deputy, will serve as acting U.S. attorney after his departure.
Trump announced earlier this month that he would nominate the former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission Jay Clayton to head the office.
Trump had originally nominated Clayton for the post in 2020, but his nomination failed amid opposition from New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, and the departure of then-U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman from office. It was Berman Fired by Trump After resisting efforts to force him to resign to make way for Clayton.
Berman’s deputy, Audrey Strauss, became acting U.S. attorney and was later officially appointed to the position she holds until October 2021.
Trump also fired Berman’s predecessor. Preet Bhararaafter first asking him to remain in office.
In announcing Clayton’s nomination, Trump called him a “highly respected business leader, consultant and public servant.”
“Jay will be a strong Fighter for Truth as we make America great again,” Trump wrote.