Trump has moved quickly to install new leaders in the US attorney general’s office

In the first 24 hours, the new Trump administration has tapped the critical US attorney’s office to quickly appoint new interim leaders, signaling a break from past practices that reflect the importance of Prosecutors are at the forefront of the government’s plans.

New acting leaders have been announced at the three largest federal prosecutors’ offices — two in New York City and one in Washington. Two of those elected are long-time, respected prosecutors; the third is a Trump supporter who pushed for the January 6 release of the accused.

The head of the US attorney’s office in Manhattan is Danielle Sassoon, best known for the successful prosecution of Sam Bankman-Fried in 2023 for fraud in his cryptocurrency business.

John Durham, a former federal prosecutor in Long Island, will lead the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn. Mr. Durham is the son of John H. Durham, the former special counsel who investigated possible government misconduct in previous investigations of President Trump.

And in Washington, officials announced that Ed Martin, a conservative activist lawyer, will be in charge of the U.S. attorney’s office, which has overseen more than 1,500 prosecutions related to the 6 January 2021 at the Capitol. Mr. Trump granted pardons in all of those cases on Monday — and Mr. Martin, in his first official action, filed a motion to dismiss the pending January 6 cases.

Typically, when a new president is elected, most of the 93 U.S. attorneys from the previous administration resign and, until a representative is appointed and confirmed by the Senate,​​​​ their representatives are working on the responsibility. This transition period can take several months.

In this case, however, the Trump administration seems determined to quickly establish its choice of key articles. Federal prosecutors’ offices in New York and Washington often deal with politically sensitive cases.

Current and former law enforcement officials say the new approach has surprised Justice Department veterans and called it a significant change from previous transitions as deputies move to the these are temporary positions.

Concurring with the independents, administration officials discussed a broader effort to name replacement leaders for multiple offices as quickly as possible. But that goal could face difficulties in identifying dozens of people to take on temporary roles as Mr. Trump tries to make major changes at the department.

Mr Trump signed an executive order on Monday that called for a far-reaching review of the past four years at the Justice Department, to end what he called the department’s “weapons” against him, his supporters and conservative.

One of the key changes being considered is bringing back dozens of lawyers to handle what the administration hopes will be a major push in immigration cases, as it seeks to increase and speed up deportations of Mr. Trump.

That would likely require moving prosecutors, possibly some from the civil rights division and other Washington-based groups, to a handful of U.S. attorneys’ offices near the southern border, the people said. one that participated in the first discussion.

The administration’s precise plan was wrapped up to give Mr. Trump’s new team of inexperienced political appointees more time at the Justice Department to ensure that competent prosecutors are put in charge. ‘the essential position, according to congressional aides who have been briefed on the plan.

So far, most of the officials appointed to the department’s top roles have been appointed by career prosecutors, including two top interim prosecutors: Devin DeBacker, who has foreign investment review expert, will manage the national security department of the department. Antoinette Bacon, a former federal prosecutor in the upstate district of New York, is expected to take over the criminal division, according to people familiar with the situation.

Ms. Sassoon, an assistant US attorney in Manhattan since 2016, was part of the prosecution team that won the conviction of Mr. Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office said Ms. Sassoon, who currently heads the office’s criminal justice division, had been appointed by Acting Attorney General James R. McHenry. III as temporary attorney.

Daniel C. Richman, who teaches criminal law at Columbia and is a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said it’s not unusual to “not go down the hierarchy” when selecting interim U.S. attorneys. for that office.

“But what the Trump administration has done is install someone who gives every indication of being an extraordinary aide in the best traditions of the office,” Mr. Richman said. “It’s the balance between wanting a clean break from the Biden administration and, at least so far, respecting the office’s culture and reputation.”

Ms. Sassoon also prosecuted Lawrence V. Ray, who was convicted in 2022 of kidnapping and sex trafficking in connection with his abuse of students at his children’s home. girls at Sarah Lawrence College. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

He graduated from Harvard College and Yale Law School and clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Ms. Sassoon replaces Edward Y. Kim, who has led the office since December, when Damian Williams, who served as U.S. attorney under President Joseph R. Biden Jr., stepped down.

Ms. Sassoon is expected to serve as interim United States attorney for the short term; The Senate must confirm Mr. Trump’s choice for the position, Jay Clayton.

Mr. Clayton, a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, served during Mr. Trump’s first term as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A spokeswoman for the Brooklyn United States attorney’s office said Mr. Durham was appointed on Monday to lead the office in an interim capacity. Mr. Durham has worked in the prosecutor’s office for nearly 20 years.

In that role, Mr. Durham led a team of prosecutors and investigators that arrested and convicted hundreds of MS-13 gang leaders, members and associates. Named last year to lead the Long Island branch of the office, Mr. Durham also prosecuted government corruption and civil rights. He is a graduate of Holy Cross and the University of Connecticut law school.

Mr. Durham will continue to serve until the Senate confirms Mr. Trump’s nomination as US attorney in Brooklyn. Mr. Trump said his choice was Long Island judge Joseph Nocella Jr.

Kitty Bennett participated in the research.