Manhattan Attorney Geoffrey Berman Steps Down to 'Respect Normal Operation of Law'

The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, announced in a statement on Saturday that he would "respect the normal operation of law" by leaving the office in light of US Attorney General Barr’s demand, and the appointment of Audrey Strauss to the position.

"In light of Attorney General Barr's decision to respect the normal operation of law and have Deputy US Attorney Audrey Strauss become Acting US Attorney, I will be leaving the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, effective immediately", the statement said.

​The announcement followed a statement made earlier by Barr, in which he said that he asked Trump to fire Berman, subsequently reporting that Trump "has done so". However, shortly after the statement became public, Trump sparked uncertainty, telling reporters that he was "not involved" in the decision, saying "that's his department, not my department".

Barr's statement responded to that of Berman's, released earlier on Friday, in which the latter insisted that he had no intention to resign and said that he would step down if "presidentially-appointed nominee is confirmed in the Senate".

Investigation into Berman's firing

The House Judiciary Committee said in a Saturday statement that an investigation into the Berman's firing will be opened "as part of our broader investigation into Barr's unacceptable politization of the Department of Justice". 

​Representative Jerry Nadler, who is chairing the House Judiciary, announced that the hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and Berman has been invited to testify.

​Berman has been overseeing the prosecution of criminal activity by several Trump associates, including the president's former lawyer Michael Cohen and current lawyer Rudy Giuliani.