On Monday, Damian Williams announced his resignation as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He will step down from his role at 11:59 p.m. on December 13, 2024. Following his departure, Deputy U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim will take over as the Acting U.S. Attorney.
Williams expressed mixed emotions about his resignation, highlighting the achievements and integrity of the office during his tenure. He commended the dedication of his colleagues and acknowledged the support he received from President Biden and Attorney General Garland. Williams described his time in office as a privilege and praised his team for their commitment to justice.
Under Williams' leadership, the office successfully prosecuted high-profile financial crimes. Notably, the office secured convictions against former billionaire financiers for fraud. These convictions include the case against Sam Bankman-Fried, a former cryptocurrency executive, who was found guilty last November for stealing approximately $8 billion from customers of the FTX exchange. Additionally, Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang, founder of Archegos Capital Management, was convicted in July for stock market manipulation, which resulted in significant losses for Wall Street banks. Both Bankman-Fried and Hwang have denied the allegations against them.
The announcement of Williams' resignation comes after former President Trump stated earlier this month his intention to nominate Jay Clayton, the former Securities and Exchange Commission chair, to lead the office. This nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Williams leaves behind a legacy of high-profile legal victories and a commitment to upholding the standards of the office. His departure marks the end of his tenure as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, and the beginning of a new chapter for the Southern District of New York under the leadership of Edward Y. Kim.
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