- Title: U.S. prosecutor who has investigated Trump lawyer refuses to resign
- Date: 20th June 2020
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - FEBRUARY 6, 2018) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) 112 JAY CLAYTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) SPEAKING ON PANEL ALONGSIDE CHRISTOPHER GIANCARLO, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION (CFTC) CLAYTON SPEAKING DURING HEARING
- Embargoed: 4th July 2020 09:51
- Keywords: Attorney General William Barr Geoffrey Berman President Donald Trump Rudolph Giuliani Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton U.S. Attorney in Manhattan
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES; SOCI
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES; SOCI
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA005CJ6BVWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A top U.S. federal prosecutor whose office has been investigating President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, on Friday (June 19) refused to step down after the administration abruptly said it was replacing him.
The dramatic standoff marks the latest in series of unusual actions by Attorney General William Barr that critics say are meant to benefit Trump politically and undermine the independence of the Justice Department.
It also comes as Trump seeks to purge officials perceived as not fully supporting him. In recent weeks he has fired a series of agency watchdogs, including one who played a key role in Trump's impeachment earlier this year.
Barr, in a surprise late-night announcement, said the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, Geoffrey Berman, was stepping down and that he would nominate Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton to take Berman's spot.
Berman, who leads a powerful office known for prosecuting high-profile terrorism cases, Wall Street financial crimes and government corruption, said he first learned of the move from Barr's press release and would not go quietly.
"I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning my position," Berman said in a statement. "I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption."
Berman's abrupt attempted dismissal came as the Justice Department asks a federal court to block publication of a book by former National Security Adviser John Bolton, whose claims include an allegation Trump tried to interfere with a probe overseen by Berman's office.
(Production: Njuwa Maina, Deborah Gembara) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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