Trump says personal lawyer will lead Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office
James M. McDonald, part of Trump’s New York criminal appeal team, is set to replace Jay Clayton at the Southern District of New York.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will name James M. McDonald, one of his personal attorneys, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The Manhattan-based post carries broad authority over one of the Justice Department’s most prominent prosecution offices, including cases involving terrorism, espionage, securities fraud and public corruption, The Associated Press reported.
McDonald would take over from Jay Clayton, whom Trump has chosen to become director of national intelligence, according to the AP. Clayton’s move comes after members of Congress pressed the administration to install a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who announced last month that she was stepping down from the intelligence post.
McDonald is a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and a former federal prosecutor, the AP reported. He also served in the White House counsel’s office during the George W. Bush administration.
According to the AP, McDonald is currently part of the legal team handling Trump’s appeal of felony convictions in New York. Those convictions stem from hush money payments made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump announced the planned appointment on Truth Social, writing, “I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country.” The AP reported that Trump made the statement Saturday.
Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, said the office “welcomes the President’s choice to lead the SDNY. Mr. McDonald is widely respected,” according to the AP.
McDonald’s recent work
McDonald also represented Indian billionaire Gautam Adani as part of a legal team that obtained a favorable result last month, the AP reported. The Justice Department under Trump dropped a fraud and conspiracy case against Adani that had been filed during the Biden administration, according to the AP.
During Trump’s first term, McDonald served as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the AP reported. Earlier, he worked as deputy associate counsel in the Bush White House.
The Southern District of New York is widely watched because of its reach into financial markets, national security matters and political corruption cases. The AP described the office as one of the most prestigious prosecution offices in the Justice Department.
Clayton move follows pressure over intelligence post
Trump’s decision to shift Clayton toward the intelligence job followed criticism of an earlier temporary appointment, the AP reported. Trump had named Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, a move that drew strong pushback, according to the AP.
Gabbard’s resignation left the administration facing calls to choose a permanent intelligence chief, the AP reported. Trump’s selection of Clayton opened the Manhattan prosecutor role that McDonald is now expected to fill.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.