Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), announced his resignation, effective at 11:59 PM on December 13. The announcement came via a press release on Monday, in which Williams reflected on his tenure leading the office.
“Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world,” Williams said. He continued: “It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level—upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence.”
“That success is due to the career attorneys, staff members, and law enforcement agents of this Office. Working with them during my tenure has been a privilege of a lifetime,” the Biden appointee said, adding: “They are worthy custodians of this Office’s tradition of doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. They are patriots. They are my family. And I will miss them dearly.”
Williams concluded: “I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the Southern District of New York during my tenure. It has been an honor to serve the American people.”
In Williams’s absence, Edward Kim, the current Deputy U.S. Attorney, will assume duties as Acting U.S. Attorney for the district. Prior to the announcement of Williams’ resignation, President-elect Donald J Trump had nominated Jay Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the role of U.S. Attorney in the same district.
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