Earlier today, word came out that the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, was going to refuse to honor the resignation request from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions had asked (basically told) all Obama-era US Attorney to get the hell out. This is common and fully in line with the authority of the attorney general, and by extension, the President of the United States.
HOLDOVER: Bharara is not submitting his resignation, according to several ppl briefed – WH not responding to what they'll do next.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 11, 2017
Preet Bharara is testing Trump and will have the loud backing of New York's tabloids (and likely NYT, which Trump adores maybe above all.)
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) March 11, 2017
Even though I respect some of the work Bharara has done, I made this comment in response…
Fire him. https://t.co/N6WW8X2zBW
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) March 11, 2017
Well, you’ll never guess what just happened!
I did not resign. Moments ago I was fired. Being the US Attorney in SDNY will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life.
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) March 11, 2017
Acting deputy Attorney General Dana Boente just called US Attorney Preet Bharara and told him President Trump was firing him.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 11, 2017
Bharara is probably going to use this in order to run for Mayor of New York City, or some other public office. After all, getting shitcanned by the Trump administration is not exactly a bad thing to have on your résumé if you’re a Democrat politician. Still, this was the right call. Preet thought he had some kind of leverage when he clearly did not. US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the attorney general and the president. If they want you gone, you’re gone.
Pretty simple stuff.
