Trump Asks Bharara to Stay as a US Attorney

Trump Asks Bharara to Stay as a US Attorney
United States Attorney General for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara speaks with reporters at Trump Tower, in New York on Nov. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Associated Press
11/30/2016
Updated:
11/30/2016

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has agreed to remain a federal prosecutor at President-elect Donald Trump’s request.

Bharara told reporters Wednesday after meeting with Trump “to discuss whether or not I'd be prepared to stay on as the U.S. attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently without fear or favor, for the last seven years.”

He said he had also met with Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s pick for attorney general, who also asked him to stay.

Bharara was appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama. He previously was chief counsel to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader. Bharara also played a leading role in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the firings of federal prosecutors under former President George W. Bush.