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NOW: AG Barr says in a letter to Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman that Trump has now officially fired him, and that's that, rejecting any argument by Berman that a judicial appointment means he can't be removed.
Previously: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
Previously: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
Barr to Berman: "Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service."
Note that Barr's letter changes the succession plan from last night — deputy US atty Audrey Strauss will take over as acting US atty https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
Note that Barr's letter changes the succession plan from last night — deputy US atty Audrey Strauss will take over as acting US atty https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
Berman's statement last night 100% ruled out any kind of voluntary departure, but wasn't totally clear on what Berman would do if Trump directly fired him. He said: "I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate." https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
Barr bristled at what he viewed as the implication in Berman's statement last night that Berman needed to stay on in SDNY to make sure cases were handled appropriately. "This is obviously false," Barr wrote. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
One of many things to note about Barr's letter — Barr says he and Berman discussed moving Berman to another role, incl. head of the SEC. The head of the SEC, Jay Clayton, who has never been a federal prosecutor, is ... who Barr wants to take Berman's job https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
What does Trump have to say about Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman? He doesn't explicitly confirm that he fired him when asked about it, saying it's up to Barr: "I'm not involved." https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/trump-barr-remove-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-sdny
