Resignation of 'Wall Street Reaper' New York Southern District Prosecutor Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, known as the "Wall Street Grim Reaper," announced on the 25th (local time) that he plans to resign on the 13th of next month, before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Demian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Reuters Yonhap News

According to the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Williams stated, "It is bittersweet to leave what has been a dream job working alongside the best colleagues as a public servant," but also announced his resignation, saying, "I am pleased to be leaving at a time when this office maintains and even exceeds a high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence." He emphasized, "This success is all thanks to the attorneys, staff, and law enforcement officers of the office. They are proud guardians of the tradition of doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons. They are patriots."

He continued, "I am grateful to President Joe Biden for nominating me as a federal prosecutor, and to Attorney General Merrick Garland for leading the Department of Justice and supporting the Southern District of New York during my tenure," adding, "It has been a great honor to serve the American people." The Department of Justice explained that after Williams' resignation, Edward Kim, currently the Deputy U.S. Attorney, will serve as acting U.S. Attorney.

The Southern District of New York, centered around New York, a global financial hub, is considered one of the most influential law enforcement agencies in the United States, handling financial crimes and more. It is famous for investigating Wall Street white-collar crimes, including stock manipulation, earning the U.S. Attorney the nickname "Wall Street Grim Reaper."

Williams, a Yale Law School graduate, was appointed in 2021 as the first Black U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York under the Biden administration. During Donald Trump's first term, he also led investigations into Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and personal attorney to former President Trump, and prosecuted Michael Cohen, known as "Trump's fixer," resulting in a three-year sentence.

President-elect Trump previously nominated Jay Clayton, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York on the 14th. Former Chairman Clayton is a lawyer and financial law expert who has served as SEC chairman and provided advice on financial regulation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and related matters. However, he is not a former prosecutor.