Prosecutor leading Trump probe resigns after Barr backs down

NEW YORK — Geoffrey Berman, the chief federal prosecutor in New York, resigned after a remarkable standoff with Attorney General William Barr and contradicting comments from President Donald Trump.

Berman, who signalled he’d fight to keep his position to protect sensitive investigations related to Trump being run by his office in Manhattan, said on Saturday evening he would step down after Barr switched course on who would take over for him on an interim basis.

Barr earlier Saturday said Berman will be replaced by Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, a trusted investigator in the office who had already been overseeing Trump-related investigations. Barr had earlier said the interim role would be filled by Craig Carpenito, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

“In light of Attorney General Barr’s decision to respect the normal operation of law and have Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss become Acting U.S. Attorney, I will be leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, effective immediately,” Berman said in a statement.

Berman said Strauss “is the smartest, most principled, and effective lawyer with whom I have ever had the privilege of working.”

In a letter to Berman on Saturday afternoon, Barr said he was disappointed that Berman hadn’t stepped aside willingly so the Justice Department could replace him with Jay Clayton, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, following confirmation by the Senate.

“I was surprised and quite disappointed by the press statement you released last night,” Barr said. “You have chosen public spectacle over public service.”

“To the extent that your statement reflects a misunderstanding concerning how you may be displaced, it is well-established that a court-appointed U.S. Attorney is subject to removal by the President.”