On Saturday, Donald Trump announced the selection of James M. McDonald as federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). This position is considered one of the most important in the structures of the US Department of Justice. The office deals with cases including terrorism, espionage, securities market manipulation and corruption among public officials.
The US President announced his decision via the Truth Social platform. “I am confident that Jamie will deliver great results for our country,” Trump wrote. The nomination will now go to the U.S. Senate for review.
Trump's lawyer is a candidate for federal prosecutor
The reaction of the institution itself was provided by its spokesman, Nicholas Biase. According to him, the federal prosecutor's office in Manhattan “welcomes the president's decision to choose the head of the SDNY. Mr. McDonald is widely respected.”
The candidate for the head of SDNY is currently a partner in the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell – reminds the Associated Press. He is also part of the team of lawyers representing Trump in the appeal proceedings against his conviction in New York.
The appeal concerns the payment of money in exchange for silence to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The transaction took place during the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
The nominated lawyer has previously worked as a federal prosecutor in the same institution he is now to manage. During Trump's first term, he headed the enforcement division of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which oversees financial markets. Previously, during the presidency of George W. Bush, he was deputy counsel at the White House.
Personnel changes in the Trump administration
McDonald's nomination is part of a broader staff turnover in the Trump administration, which also includes the intelligence leadership. The new prosecutor will take the place left vacant by Jay Clayton, who previously headed the SDNY. The president selected him as a candidate for head of national intelligence.
Saturday's announcement of McDonald's candidacy came amid growing demands from Congress, which expects to appoint a permanent successor to Tulsi Gabbard, the AP notes. Last month, she announced that she was stepping down as director of national intelligence.
