Trump taps James M. McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced he will appoint James M. McDonald, one of his personal lawyers, as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, filling the vacancy left by Jay Clayton's nomination as director of national intelligence.
- McDonald, a former federal prosecutor and financial regulator, is currently part of Trump's legal team handling appeals related to felony convictions in New York tied to hush money payments during the 2016 election.
- The Southern District of New York is a highly influential Justice Department office with jurisdiction over significant cases including terrorism, espionage, fraud, and public corruption.
- McDonald previously served as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under Trump and worked in the White House counsel's office during George W. Bush's administration.
- The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan welcomed McDonald's nomination, describing him as widely respected, amid ongoing congressional pressure on Trump to fill key intelligence leadership roles.