Dems’ impeachment lawyer weighs run
Former assistant U.S. attorney considers bid for attorney general
A trial attorney who served as majority counsel for Democrats in the first impeachment inquiry against ex-president Donald J. Trump is eyeing running for New York attorney general.
According to state Board of Elections records, Daniel S. Goldman recently formed a campaign committee to raise money for a possible attorney general bid. Attorney General Letitia James, who spent much of her first two years in office focusing on Trump and his administration, is running for governor in 2022.
Goldman led the questioning of senior White House and U.S. State Department officials in the first impeachment inquiry into Trump, which centered on whether Trump sought to pressure Ukraine to investigate rivals, including then-u.s. Sen. Joe Biden, who defeated Trump during the subsequent presidential election. Trump was impeached in the matter by the House, but was not convicted in the U.S. Senate.
From 2007 to 2017, Goldman was an assistant U.S. attorney in the office of Preet Bharara, a period when Bharara’s office brought a number of significant cases against to New York government officials. During his time at the office, Goldman helped lead organized crime cases. After leaving that office, Goldman became a legal analyst for NBC, before joining the House Intelligence Committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, as general counsel in 2019.
In February 2020, Politico reported that Goldman was leaving the committee and returning to New York.
Goldman, who would presumably run in the Democratic primary for attorney general, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A number of New York lawmakers are eyeing the attorney general’s job, and Fordham Law professor Zephyr Teachout announced her campaign for the position on Monday.
And Board of Elections records show on Friday, Queens Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, a Democrat, also created a campaign committee for a possible attorney general campaign. Vanel has previously discussed the possibility of running.
Former state Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo is also interested in running, although she’s not yet officially announced a bid.