Damian Williams, the federal prosecutor for Manhattan who gained national attention for securing convictions against high-profile figures like U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, announced on Monday that he will resign ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Williams, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, will step down on December 13, with Edward Kim, his current deputy, stepping in as acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Known for its independence and history of prosecuting major financial fraud and public corruption cases, the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office has operated as a legal powerhouse under Williams. During his tenure, he prioritized high-stakes financial crimes, leading to significant convictions. In 2023, Williams secured the conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a 25-year prison sentence for stealing $8 billion from FTX customers in one of history’s largest financial fraud cases. Similarly, Archegos Capital’s founder, Bill Hwang, was convicted and sentenced to 18 years for manipulating stock markets, causing billions in losses for Wall Street banks.
Williams also aggressively pursued public corruption, convicting Democratic Senator Bob Menendez in July 2023 on charges of fraud and acting as a foreign agent. Menendez, who denied wrongdoing, awaits sentencing after resigning. Williams further charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with bribery in September, a case Adams continues to fight with a not-guilty plea.
Reflecting on his resignation, Williams expressed confidence in the strength of his office, emphasizing its commitment to excellence and independence. “I am leaving at a time when the office is functioning at an incredibly high level,” Williams stated. His departure preempts any potential fallout under Trump, who has pledged to weaponize the Justice Department against political opponents if elected.
Trump’s history with the Manhattan office has been contentious. In 2017, he fired Williams’ predecessor, Preet Bharara, despite initially asking him to stay on. Trump also clashed with Geoffrey Berman, another former Manhattan U.S. attorney, after Berman’s office secured convictions against Trump’s associates, including his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Berman later revealed in a memoir that the Trump administration pressured him to pursue politically motivated prosecutions, which he resisted.
Williams, the first Black person to hold the role, clerked for prominent figures like U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens before leading the Manhattan office. His resignation reflects his decision to leave on his terms, avoiding the tumult that Trump’s presidency could bring to the office.
Trump’s plans to nominate Jay Clayton, a former SEC chair, to lead the Southern District highlight the potential for significant changes under his administration. During his campaign, Trump openly vowed to target political enemies through the Justice Department, raising concerns among legal experts about the erosion of prosecutorial independence. Williams, however, praised the integrity of the Manhattan office, calling its attorneys “patriots” and defenders of the rule of law.
“They are worthy custodians of this office’s tradition of doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons,” Williams affirmed in his statement. As his resignation approaches, his legacy of high-profile convictions and unwavering independence remains firmly intact.
