Manhattan, New York, USA – Federal prosecutor Damian Williams announced on November 25 that he will be resigning on December 13. Deputy Prosecutor Edward Kim will temporarily assume his responsibilities.
It was reported last week that Williams was considering resigning before Donald Trump assumes office as President in January next year. On November 25, he officially stated that his resignation is a bittersweet moment for him. The bitterness stems from leaving his dream job and no longer leading an institution that he loves, which has gathered some of the world’s most outstanding public servants. On the other hand, he expressed joy as the Southern District of New York’s federal prosecutor’s office, under his leadership, has continued to elevate its standards of excellence, integrity, and independence to unprecedented levels. Williams thanked President Biden for his promotion and the support of Attorney General Merrick Garland, allowing him the honor to serve the American people.
Williams is the first African American to serve as the federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York. Since taking office at the end of 2021, he has handled several high-profile cases, including the indictment of FTX cryptocurrency exchange platform founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, as well as the conviction of hedge fund Archegos Capital Management founder and Korean-American billionaire Bill Hwang. Additionally, he filed charges against the current Mayor of New York City, Adams, in a corruption case.
President-elect Trump has previously announced that he will nominate Jay Clayton, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to succeed Williams in his position.