Moments ago I was fired.” Referring to the Southern District of New York, he continued, “Being
the US Attorney in SDNY will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life.”
Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman, declined to characterize Mr. Bharara’s departure
that way, saying only, “I can confirm that Mr. Bharara is no longer the U. S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.”
All presidents choose their own appointees for United States attorney positions and almost always ask those from their predecessors to leave.
Two White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid offending the president, said the promise to keep Mr. Bharara on was a product of a chaotic transition process
and Mr. Trump’s desire at the time to try to work with Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, with whom Mr. Bharara is close.
The Southern District of New York, which Mr. Bharara has overseen since 2009, encompasses Manhattan, Mr. Trump’s home
before he was elected president, as well as the Bronx, Westchester County and other counties north of New York City.
U. S. Attorney Preet Bharara Says He Was Fired After Refusing to Quit -
By MAGGIE HABERMAN and CHARLIE SAVAGEMARCH 11, 2017
The call to Preet Bharara’s office from President Trump’s assistant came on Thursday.
At the meeting, according to those briefed, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Bharara to remain in the job,
which Mr. Bharara relayed to reporters and television cameras in the Trump Tower lobby.
Mr. Boente reiterated that Mr. Bharara was being asked to resign, and Mr. Bharara said that he was interpreting that as being fired.
