When Barr first tried to fire Geoff Berman on Friday, ex-SDNY prosecutor @NawadayJaimie recalled being in the office for @PreetBharara's ouster.
"And this seemed even worse because of the way it went down," she told me.
SDNY alumni sound off. My latest: courthousenews.com/spectacularly-…
"And this seemed even worse because of the way it went down," she told me.
SDNY alumni sound off. My latest: courthousenews.com/spectacularly-…
Another SDNY alum, @JenGRodgers, noted that the none of the usual reasons to replace a U.S. Attorney applied to Berman
“It’s so clear to me that they actually are in bad faith acting to try to control and influence cases and investigations in the Southern District.”
“It’s so clear to me that they actually are in bad faith acting to try to control and influence cases and investigations in the Southern District.”
Unlike with Preet, Berman's ouster did not fall toward the beginning of Trump's term and could not have been attributed to a proverbial changing of the guards.
The AG could not have had any complaints about Berman, since the DOJ reportedly tried to promote him.
The AG could not have had any complaints about Berman, since the DOJ reportedly tried to promote him.
And Barr's original plan called for a highly unusual transition where the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey would take over instead of Berman’s deputy.
Trump's nominee for Berman's replacement had no experience as a litigator or prosecutor, nor was chosen by NY senators.
Trump's nominee for Berman's replacement had no experience as a litigator or prosecutor, nor was chosen by NY senators.
If Barr planned to interfere, Rodgers said: “I think it’s spectacularly backfired on them."
“I think that they are going to get exactly what they didn’t want, which is a rush to finish things that may ultimately badly harm the president when they become public," she added.
“I think that they are going to get exactly what they didn’t want, which is a rush to finish things that may ultimately badly harm the president when they become public," she added.
On Wednesday, @HouseJudiciary opens a hearing with testimony from two whistleblowers alleging a pattern of political interference from Barr's Justice Department.
The committee's chair @RepJerryNadler announced plans to secure Berman's testimony.
The committee's chair @RepJerryNadler announced plans to secure Berman's testimony.
SDNY alumni believed that Berman should testify, as long as he can protect the confidentiality of ongoing investigations.
But @MimiRocah1, now running for Westchester DA, said the committee should not stop at Berman.
"I also think they must force Barr to testify,” she said.
But @MimiRocah1, now running for Westchester DA, said the committee should not stop at Berman.
"I also think they must force Barr to testify,” she said.
