NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced his resignation on Monday, days after President-elect Donald Trump announced his replacement for the powerful prosecutorial position.
Williams, who leads one of the largest and busiest prosecutor offices in the country, will step down on Dec. 13. Upon his departure, Edward Y. Kim, currently serving as Deputy United States Attorney, will assume the role of Acting U.S. Attorney.
“Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,” Williams said. “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. 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.”
Williams’ office has handled several high-profile prosecutions, including investigations into Mayor Eric Adams’ alleged corruption, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and securing convictions against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
The resignation follows reports that Trump is considering former Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Jay Clayton to replace Williams as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor. Clayton, a former corporate lawyer, is expected to play a critical role for the president-elect.