Berman announced on Saturday evening (local time) that he would hand over the management of the public prosecutor’s office for the southern district of New York to his deputy, Audrey Strauss, with immediate effect.
It was “the honor of his life” to be able to work in this role. Berman – who had also investigated Trump’s employees – had initially refused to resign. Trump then fired Berman, according to Justice Secretary William Barr.
Allegation of disability
The Democrats in the US Congress accused the Republican Trump of wanting to hinder investigations against the president. Since his appointment in January 2018, Berman has also had various close associates in his sights on Trump.
His agency took action against Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, among others. She is also investigating Trump confidante and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and has indicted his former associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman.
Berman had also made a name for himself in recent months with investigations into the abuse scandal involving the businessman Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.
Public conflict with Trump
The 60-year-old lawyer’s resignation is the consequence of a public conflict with the Trump administration that escalated in less than 24 hours. Barr announced late Friday night that Berman was stepping down after two and a half years.
A reason was not given. The minister thanked Berman for his “excellent work” and announced that Trump would nominate Jay Clayton, currently head of the stock exchange regulator, as the new district attorney.
New Jersey District Attorney Craig Carpenito will take over as executive director of Berman from July 3 until Clayton is confirmed by the Senate.
Berman disagrees with Barr
Berman then contradicted Barr. “I have not resigned and I have no intention of resigning from the position I have been appointed to by the judges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,” the prosecutor said.
He only found out about his alleged resignation from Barr’s press release. «I will resign when a candidate appointed by the president is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, our investigations will continue without delay or interruption. “
Barr then turned to Berman on Saturday in a letter, the text of which was published by the broadcaster CNN and from which numerous US media cited unanimously. The letter therefore stated: “Since you have stated that you have no intention of resigning, I asked the President to remove you as of today, and he did.” Barr added: “Unfortunately, with your statement last night, you preferred public spectacle to public service.”
Trump: That’s Barr’s business
Trump did not initially confirm that he had fired Berman. The president said before leaving for a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon (local time), the conflict with Berman was a matter for Barr. “This is his department, not my department,” said Trump. “I’m not involved.”
Barr noted in his letter that it was up to the president to replace district attorneys. He also announced that it was not Carpenito but, by law, Berman’s deputy Audrey Strauss who would now take over the office until a permanent successor is confirmed. Berman justified his withdrawal with the fact that Barr had now followed the legal process with the appointment of his deputy as managing director of the agency.
Violent criticism from the Democrats
Sharp criticism came from the Democrats in the US Congress. House chairwoman Nancy Pelosi accused the president and his “cronies” of putting Trump’s personal and political interests above those of the Americans by interfering in criminal investigations. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Clayton to withdraw his nomination.
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders called Trump “the most corrupt president in our life.” Congress must investigate the process. House Justice Committee chairman Democrat Jerry Nadler invited Berman to testify on Barr at a scheduled hearing. Nadler accused Barr of having interfered in criminal investigations on behalf of Trump on several occasions.
Trump’s then Attorney General Jeff Sessions – with whom Trump later fell out – had appointed Berman as the executive district attorney. Trump never sent the nomination to the Senate. After 120 days, Berman was formally appointed to the post by the district court judges. Berman’s predecessor Preet Bharara raised the question on Twitter why Trump wanted to get rid of the prominent prosecutor a few months before the November election. Trump fired Bharara after he refused to step down.
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