U.S. attorney refuses to leave post
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, who runs the office that prosecuted Michael Cohen and is investigating Rudy Giuliani, said Friday he would remain in his powerful post despite an announcement by Attorney General William Barr that he was resigning.
The head-spinning war of words erupted late in the evening between Barr, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, and Berman, who is overseeing investigations into Trump associates.
Barr said in a press release that Berman was “stepping down,” without further explanation.
Berman responded that was not true.
“I learned in a press release from the Attorney General tonight that I was ‘stepping down’ as United States Attorney. I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position, to which I was appointed by the Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,” Berman said in a statement from his office.
“I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption. I cherish every day that I work with the men and women of this Office to pursue justice without fear or favor — and intend to ensure that this Office’s important cases continue unimpeded.”
Berman was appointed interim U.S. Attorney by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Jan. 2018. Under a rarely used statute, Manhattan federal judges then unanimously appointed him to his post for an indefinite period until the Senate confirmed his replacement.
That unorthodox path to his post will likely factor in a fight over whether Berman would keep his job.
The office is investigating Giuliani in connection with corruption charges against the former mayor’s associates, including Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman.
Barr said in the release that Craig Carpenito, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, was to serve as acting Manhattan U.S. attorney and that Trump would nominate Jay Clayton, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to replace Berman.