WASHINGTON – In a significant move, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he intends to appoint James M. McDonald, one of his personal lawyers, to the position of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). This decision comes in the wake of the current U.S. Attorney, Jay Clayton, being nominated as the new director of national intelligence.
James M. McDonald brings a wealth of experience to this influential role. A former federal prosecutor within the same office he is set to lead, McDonald has held various significant positions, including serving as a financial regulator during Trump’s first term. His legal career also includes a tenure in the White House counsel’s office under President George W. Bush.
Currently a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, McDonald is part of the legal team representing Trump in ongoing appeals related to felony convictions connected to hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The role of U.S. Attorney for the SDNY is one of the most prestigious within the Justice Department, overseeing a broad range of cases, including terrorism, espionage, securities fraud, and public corruption. McDonald’s appointment is expected to have substantial implications for the office’s operations and priorities.
In addition to his work in the SDNY, McDonald was pivotal in a recent case involving Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, where the Trump administration dropped a fraud and conspiracy case that had been initiated during the Biden administration.
Before his current legal endeavors, McDonald served as the director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and was deputy associate counsel in the Bush White House.
Trump expressed confidence in McDonald’s capabilities, stating on the Truth Social platform, “I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country.”
Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan, welcomed the President’s selection of McDonald, noting that he is “widely respected” within legal circles.
This announcement comes at a critical time as Trump faces mounting pressure from Congress to appoint a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who recently resigned from her position as the director of national intelligence. Trump previously faced backlash for naming Bill Pulte as the acting director of the agency.
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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.
