Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Announces Resignation

Williams, the first Black U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, will step down on December 13 as President-elect Trump plans to appoint Jay Clayton to the role.

Damian Williams, appointed by President Biden in 2021, will resign as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York effective December 13, 2024.
Williams oversaw high-profile cases including the convictions of Sen. Bob Menendez, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as ongoing prosecutions of NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as Williams's replacement.
Williams described his resignation as 'bittersweet,' emphasizing confidence in the office's continued excellence and independence under his successor.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim will serve as acting U.S. Attorney until Trump's nominee is confirmed.