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Extraordinary development in New York as Attorney General William Barr abruptly seeks to fire the U.S. attorney who has been investigation Rudolph Giuliani and other Trump Associates https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/nyregion/us-attorney-manhattan-trump.html?smid=tw-share
2/ "I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position,” the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Geoffrey Berman, said in a statement, adding that he learned that he was “stepping down” in a press release from the Justice Department.
3/ A.G. Barr asked U.S. attorney Berman to resign but he refused so Barr moved to fire him, The Times reports. Trump had discussed removing Berman for some time with advisers; Trump had been upset with Berman ever since his office pursued a case against Michael Cohen.
4/ Trump’s purge of officials has intensified in the months since the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in the impeachment trial. He has fired or forced out inspectors general with independent oversight over executive branch agencies and other key figures from the trial.
5/ Several dismissals have come late on Friday nights, a time that many White Houses have used to disclose news that they would prefer receive little attention. Barr's statement announcing Berman's "stepping down" was issued around 9:15 p.m.
6/ Here is U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman's full statement: “I learned in a press release from the Attorney General tonight that I was ‘stepping down’ as United States Attorney. I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position...." [More]
7/ Berman's full statement continued: "...to which I was appointed by the Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate." [More]
8/ Berman: "..Until then our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption. I cherish every day that I work with the men and women of this Office to pursue justice without fear or favor--and intend to ensure that this Office’s important cases continue unimpeded.”
