Marx/Pike
Jewish Hats Matter
With a deadline looming, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is using executive authority to name 17 interim U.S. attorneys in cities from coast to coast.
In New York, for instance, Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand approve of the administration's choice for the Eastern District, former prosecutor Richard Donoghue, a source familiar with the process said. But they have not given a thumbs-up to its preferred candidate for the Southern District, Geoffrey Berman, who is Rudolph Giuliani's law partner, the source said.
If confirmed, Berman would fill the vacancy left when Preet Bharara was fired after refusing to resign. Bharara's deputy, Joon Kim, has been serving as acting U.S. attorney but will now step aside for Berman to take over as interim.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sessions-uses-executive-authority-appoint-interim-u-s-attorneys-n834446
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has tapped Edward O’Callaghan, a widely respected veteran prosecutor, as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, a post that is among the most important at the Department of Justice. The PADAG, as the position is known within DoJ, is charged with wide-ranging responsibilities including oversight of investigations and Department operations.
O’Callaghan is assuming a post previously held by FBI Director Christopher Wray and Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland among others. The Russia investigation has made it even more crucial now.
The PADAG also serves as “a consigliere” to the deputy attorney general, Matthew Axelrod, who held the position under Rosenstein’s predecessor Sally Yates, told CNN. “[S]omeone to discuss the most sensitive issues with, to give you sound advice, and to ensure your decisions get implemented.” It is in this part of the job that O’Callaghan will be especially important.
Rosenstein, who is responsible for overseeing Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and potential coordination between President Trump’s campaign and Moscow related to Kremlin meddling in the 2016 election, may prove to be among the most consequential deputy attorney generals to ever hold the role. Ed O’Callaghan’s experience with corruption and counterintelligence prosecutions will be key to helping Rosenstein navigate the tricky issues that the Russia probe will raise.
https://www.roughlyexplained.com/2018/04/rosenstein-beefs-up-team-taps-veteran-prosecutor-ed-ocallaghan-as-his-right-hand/