Trump Fires the Att Gen who is Investigating Him
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:30 pm
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/Trump-fi ... 75abf8fa4b
Geoffrey S. Berman was removed from his position as Manhattan U.S. attorney after he refused to step down.
“Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so.”
Barr’s letter to Berman essentially conceded his public statement had misled the public, writing that “While we advised the public that you would leave the U.S. Attorney’s office in two weeks, I still hoped that your departure could be amicable.”
Barr also wrote that he had authorized DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to review claims of improper influence on ongoing cases.
Berman was investigating Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, for his work in Ukraine to aid Trump’s reelection campaign.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss will now become the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. That’s a change from Barr’s original plan, which was to appoint the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey to the position on an acting basis.
The replacement of Berman came about very quickly. A source told HuffPost that Berman had sent a message to employees about COVID-19 safety precautions on Thursday.
Despite Barr’s letter specifically saying he was acting under the orders of the president, Trump told reporters outside the White House Saturday afternoon that he was “not involved” in the decision.
“That’s [Barr’s] department, not my department,” Trump said. “So that’s really up to him, I’m not involved.”
Geoffrey S. Berman was removed from his position as Manhattan U.S. attorney after he refused to step down.
“Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so.”
Barr’s letter to Berman essentially conceded his public statement had misled the public, writing that “While we advised the public that you would leave the U.S. Attorney’s office in two weeks, I still hoped that your departure could be amicable.”
Barr also wrote that he had authorized DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to review claims of improper influence on ongoing cases.
Berman was investigating Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, for his work in Ukraine to aid Trump’s reelection campaign.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss will now become the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. That’s a change from Barr’s original plan, which was to appoint the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey to the position on an acting basis.
The replacement of Berman came about very quickly. A source told HuffPost that Berman had sent a message to employees about COVID-19 safety precautions on Thursday.
Despite Barr’s letter specifically saying he was acting under the orders of the president, Trump told reporters outside the White House Saturday afternoon that he was “not involved” in the decision.
“That’s [Barr’s] department, not my department,” Trump said. “So that’s really up to him, I’m not involved.”