Trump to name James McDonald – one of his lawyers – as Wall Street’s top cop

President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint James McDonald as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. This office is responsible for prosecuting many significant Wall Street cases. McDonald will succeed Jay Clayton, who was nominated by Trump as the US director of national intelligence. This nomination for intelligence director followed a congressional backlash against Trump's previous interim appointee, housing official Bill Pulte. Pulte had been selected after the resignation of the current director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate James M. McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, replacing Jay Clayton who was nominated for director of national intelligence. McDonald, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and current litigation partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, previously served as a personal attorney for Trump and held positions in the White House under George W. Bush and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under Trump. If confirmed, McDonald would lead one of the Justice Department's most significant prosecution offices, handling cases from terrorism to public corruption. Trump expressed confidence in McDonald's ability to deliver results, and a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office welcomed the choice, stating McDonald is widely respected.