U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara agreed to stay on in his current position in the Southern District of New York after Donald Trump asked him to on Wednesday.
Bharara, who made his name prosecuting the top Republican and Democrat in the New York State Senate went to Trump Tower Wednesday after the president-elect asked for for a meeting.
Following the meeting, Bharara spoke with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower stating, “The president-elect asked, presumably because he’s a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked to meet with me to discuss whether or not I’d be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favor for the last seven years.”
He went on to say, “We had a good meeting. I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on. I have already spoken to Senator Sessions, who is as you know is the nominee to be the attorney general. He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I will be continuing to work at the southern district.”
New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, an avowed foe of a number of Trump’s current nominations to the upper chamber, applauded the move to keep Bharara on board at the U.S. Attorneys Office saying in a statement:
“President-elect Trump called me last week and asked me what I thought about Preet Bharara continuing his role as U.S. Attorney. I told him I thought Preet was great, and I would be all for keeping him on the job and fully support it. I am glad they met and am glad Preet is staying on. He’s been one of the best U.S Attorneys New York has ever seen.”