During my research on Jim Comey, I did a deep dive on the US Atty of the Southern District (he had the job, too). This may be helpful context for those unfamiliar with the office/its role: 1. It’s arguably the most powerful prosecutor in the US outside the AG....

By dint of its jurisdiction and remit, it handles an array of high profile cases—terror, financial, organized crime. The prosecutor matters because s/he determines how/where to allocate resources. It's a training ground for the toughest prosecutors in the country.

And though the SDNY is known for its independence (nickname "Sovereign District of NY") it IS a presidential appointment. US Atty's usually resign when a new prez is elected. JFK-appointee Robert Morganthau tried to hang on after Nixon but ultimately resigned under pressure...

Rudy Giuliani became a celebrity during his tenure, largely b/c he loved doing press conferences. He investigated/indicted the heads of the Five Families using RICO (innovative at the time), effectively neutering the mob in NY. A very big deal.

Mary Jo White (1st woman to hold the job) aggressively prosecuted terror cases: first WTC bombers, plot to blow up UN, embassy bombings in Africa, indictment of Osama Bin Laden. Also investigated Bill Clinton pardon of Marc Rich–a case that would be inherited by Jim Comey...

Comey found made a name for himself with a string of high profile cases (and like his former boss, Rudy, loved a good presser): Martha Stewart, John Rigas, Frank Quattrone, Worldcom's Scott Sullivan. in 2002 he called it "The Summer of White Collar."

And @PreetBharara who presided during the financial meltdown in 2009. Though he caught big fish like Raj Rajaratnam and SAC’s Steve Cohen, he fielded criticism for not going after execs from Lehman, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley. (They all field criticism, tho.)

Trump fired Bharara in in 2017 in same resign/get fired move that Morgenthau faced. Also similar b/c there were broader concerns about prez influence over criminal investigations of the president's associates.

But this firing of Geoffrey Berman stinks for a slew of reasons articulated by many (including Preet, et al): 1) 5 months before election day. Timing is suspect. 2) Announced hours before Trump rally, an attempt to bury it in news cycle.

3) Barr botched it by not reading the fine print, assuming Berman would go gently into that good night. Tho the office conducts business behind close doors, this raises a big question that doesn't go away til answered: What is Berman investigating that Barr wants to shut down?

Berman was a Jeff Sessions appointment so Trump could have argued “Sessions was terrible and so were his guy” but that he did it now is obviously loaded. The ‘why now’ is the important piece.

This is a great piece on Berman, a Trump loyalist who served on the transition team. Which helps explain why Sessions appointed him—to avoid confirmation. But underscores this stunning turn of events. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/jeff-sessions-could-bypass-congress-to-appoint-us-attorneys-heres-how/2018/02/01/5811658c-0763-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html?outputType=amp