Trump Appoints Interim US Attorney for Manhattan
The president has announced that Jay Clayton will assume the role of interim U.S. attorney while the Senate continues discussions regarding his confirmation.
President Donald Trump has declared that Jay Clayton will take on the position of interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which encompasses sections of New York City, as the nominee encounters obstacles in the Senate.
As U.S. Attorney, Clayton will serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government within the designated district. Given that it includes the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, the Southern District of New York is widely regarded as the nation’s most influential prosecutorial office, handling numerous high-profile cases.
Among the notable recent cases in this district are those involving Luigi Mangione, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump’s announcement regarding Clayton’s interim appointment follows Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blocking U.S. attorney nominees for New York, including both Clayton and Trump’s nominee for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, Jr., on April 16.
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Schumer, representing New York, is technically within his rights as a senator to block these nominees. Under a long-standing Senate tradition that dates back to President George Washington’s tenure, any senator can prevent the confirmation of particular nominees linked to their home state.
While this is not an ironclad rule, it is generally observed in the upper chamber. However, both parties have historically been willing to overlook it, especially in recent decades, and they may choose to do so in this instance.
Trump criticized this action, highlighting the bipartisan support Clayton had received and pointing out that he had already gone through the nomination process.
“The Southern District oversees the Department of Justice’s regulation of our Financial Markets and advocates for the safety of millions of New Yorkers, along with over 60 million visitors to New York each year,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “The Southern District requires strong leadership NOW, and I thank Jay for stepping into this role while we work toward his Senate confirmation.”
It remains uncertain how Republicans will respond to Schumer’s hold. It will be up to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to decide whether to proceed with Clayton’s confirmation process.
Arjun Singh contributed to this report.
