U.S. Attorney Investigating Trump's Relatives Denies Wanting To Resign

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Geoffrey Berman says he learned in the press of the US Minister of Justice's announcement of his departure. He has investigated relatives of the President, including his current lawyer Rudy Giuliani. He has no intention of leaving.

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Geoffrey Berman has been a prosecutor since 2018 in the powerful South District of New York. He notably oversaw the indictment of Michael Cohen , the ex-lawyer of Donald Trump sentenced to three years in prison in December 2018 for lying to Congress, defrauding his taxes and buying the silence of two alleged former mistresses of the former real estate mogul during the 2016 presidential campaign, in violation of electoral laws.

Geoffrey Berman also investigated the efforts of Rudy Giuliani , the president's current personal lawyer, and two of his associates to discredit Joe Biden, who had become the Republican president's Democratic opponent for the November 3 presidential election.

Also responsible for the Jeffrey Epstein case, the New York prosecutor publicly accused Prince Andrew in early June of pretending to cooperate in this file of sexual exploitation of underage girls.

"Potential corruption of the legal process"

Friday evening's dramatic start: Minister of Justice William Barr announces the resignation of Geoffrey Berman, adding that President Trump will appoint Jay Clayton, the current head of the American stock market policeman, the SEC (Securities and Exchange) Commission). "  I thank Geoffrey Berman, who resigns after two and a half years as a US attorney in the South District of New York,  " said the minister in his statement.

However, the prosecutor is clearly not a man to be taken in: he declares that he learned of his presumed departure in the press release from William Barr. "  I have not resigned and have no intention of resigning ," he says. I will resign when a candidate appointed by the President is confirmed by the Senate. Until that time, our investigations will continue without interruption.  "

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed concern, saying in a statement that "  this resignation announced late Friday night reeks of potential corruption in the legal process  ." And to wonder: "  What makes President Trump angry?" A previous action by this prosecutor or an action in progress  ? "

Dismissal of serial prosecutors

The Trump administration has sacked several officials responsible for overseeing government action. US Diplomacy Inspector Steve Linick, fired in mid-May by the White House tenant, said the State Department knew it was investigating two potentially troublesome files for the secretary at the time. Mike Pompeo.

Geoffrey Berman's predecessor, Preet Bharara, had been sacked after refusing to resign as requested by Donald Trump. Taken aback by this resignation announcement, he wondered on Twitter "  why is a president getting rid of the prosecutor he chose himself in the South district of New York on a Friday evening, less than five months ago of the  presidential election .

Why does a president get rid of his own hand-picked US Attorney in SDNY on a Friday night, less than 5 months before the election?

► Read also: Donald Trump in a bad patch after several setbacks

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