Trump’s Minister of Justice announces the resignation of an unpopular prosecutor. First he tweeted happily: “I have not resigned and I have no intention of doing so.” Now he has left.
Geoffrey Berman is considered one of the most powerful prosecutors in the United States – and has annoyed the Trump administration several times: The federal attorney for Manhattan had, among other things, led the investigation into Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who was sentenced to three years in prison for perjury in Congress.
He also targeted Trump’s current attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The reason: He tried to find harmful information about Trump’s rival Joe Biden in Ukraine.
Stockbroker should replace Berman
Justice Minister Bill Barr announced the resignation of the lawyer on Friday evening (local time). President Donald Trump wants to make the current head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton, the new federal attorney for the southern district of New York – Manhattan.
Berman’s reply came shortly afterwards: “I learned from a Justice Secretary press release tonight that I was ‘stepping down’ as a US attorney,” Berman said. “I have not resigned and I have no intention of resigning.” This will apply until the US Senate has confirmed a successor for him. “Until then, our ongoing investigations will continue without interruption.”
Now the argument is over: On Saturday, Berman agreed to leave his post – but only after he received assurance that his investigations into allies of President Donald Trump would not be affected.
“You all took an oath – on the constitution, not on Trump”
Why the Justice Department kicked Berman out now is not entirely clear. “This Friday night firing smells of possible damage to the legal process,” said Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer.
And California Democratic politician Ted Lieu reminded Justice Department staff in a tweet: “You all took an oath. It wasn’t about Trump or Bill Barr. It was about the constitution. If Trump or Barr give you instructions that conflict with this, I strongly advise you to follow the example of Prosecutor Berman. ”
