Damian Williams Will be the First Black US Attorney after Confirmation

A longtime New York prosecutor Damian Williams (currently heads the Securities and Commodities Task Force in the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York) is now being considered to lead the office. Williams would be the first African American to serve as Manhattan’s US attorney. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he will recommend the Biden administration to nominate Williams for the top post. He said, “The most consequential prosecutorial office in America. Damian Williams has tremendous legal acumen, is deeply experienced in the Southern District, has tried significant cases, and has a strong commitment to equal justice and civil rights under the law. He is ready to take the helm to steer the Southern District forward into a bright future”.

Point to be noted that Williams currently leads a team of prosecutors in the Southern District that works with law enforcement agencies to investigate white-collar crimes. He also served as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District until 2018. He prosecuted politicians from both parties in cases involving insider trading and bribery. He holds a J.D. from Yale and previously clerked for former federal judge Merrick Garland. However, Williams’ chops in trying cases of financial crimes by the wealthy seem to be most relevant for the post-Schumer is calling the Biden administration to nominate him for. Bloomberg also reported that Williams was born in Brooklyn and is the son of Jamaican immigrants. Schumer said he will also recommend Trini Ross and Breon Peace (also African American attorneys) to respectively serve as US attorneys for the Western and Eastern Districts of New York.

Schumer added, “I am confident all three of these legal leaders will pursue the facts and justice without fear or favor and will greatly help rebuild public confidence in an unbiased and professional Department of Justice”. The Biden administration has so far kept its promise of committing to diversity in his presidential appointments and nominations for other top federal positions. But this approach hasn’t been without its hiccups when it comes time for Senate confirmations. The confirmation of Vanita Gupta continues to be stalled by Senate Republicans. Neera Tanden withdrew her name after several senators said they would not support her nomination over her past tweets. It would be the first time that three African-American leaders hold critical positions in the DOJ if Schumer successfully picks for leading the New York US Attorney’s Offices.