Source: Fortune
Summary
President Donald Trump has announced that he will appoint James M. McDonald, one of his personal lawyers, as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. McDonald will replace Jay Clayton, who has been tapped as the director of national intelligence. McDonald has previously served in the White House counsel’s office and as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He has also been part of the legal team handling Trump’s pending appeal of felony convictions in New York. Trump expressed confidence in McDonald’s ability to deliver strong results for the country.
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Trump’s appointment of McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York gives him oversight of a vast portfolio of cases, including terrorism, espionage, and public corruption. McDonald’s previous experience in the White House counsel’s office and as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has prepared him for this role. Trump’s confidence in McDonald’s ability to deliver strong results for the country is evident. The appointment comes as pressure increases from Congress to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard as national intelligence director. The strategy enters a familiar phase, where loyalty and personal connections play a significant role in key appointments.
Author: Evan Null
