Trump names James M. McDonald to lead powerful New York federal prosecutor’s office
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Saturday his intention to nominate James M. McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to replace Jay Clayton, whom Trump nominated this week. For the role of director of national intelligence.
McDonald, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, is currently a litigation partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and became Trump’s one-time personal lawyer after he was appointed to handle the appeal of Trump’s Manhattan hush money conviction; this is still pending
At that time, Trump was found guilty. 34 felony counts of concealing $130,000 in payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
If appointed as the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, McDonald would oversee the Justice Department’s most prestigious prosecutor’s offices, with portfolios ranging from terrorism and espionage cases to security fraud and public corruption.
McDonald was part of the legal team that secured a positive outcome for Indian billionaire Gautam Adani last month when the Trump administration’s Justice Department stepped in. Dropped fraud and conspiracy case He was brought to the Biden administration.
McDonald also served as executive director of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Trump’s first term and also served as deputy counsel in the White House under George W. Bush.
“I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country,” Trump said of McDonald’s candidacy on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.
“We welcome the President’s choice to lead the SDNY. Mr. McDonald is widely respected,” said Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan.
Clayton’s nomination comes as pressure mounts from Congress to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation as director of national intelligence last month. Trump faced intense backlash On the decision to appoint Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director.
