Trump taps James M. McDonald to replace Jay Clayton at SDNY office
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced he will appoint James M. McDonald, one of his personal lawyers, as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, filling a key vacancy after Jay Clayton was nominated as director of national intelligence.
- McDonald, a former federal prosecutor and partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, is currently part of Trump's legal team appealing felony convictions related to hush money payments during the 2016 election.
- The Southern District of New York is a highly influential Justice Department office handling cases involving terrorism, espionage, securities fraud, and public corruption.
- McDonald has a background as a financial regulator during Trump’s first term and previously served in the White House counsel’s office under President George W. Bush.
- The appointment comes amid congressional pressure on Trump to name permanent replacements for key intelligence positions, following the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard as national intelligence director.