Trump Names Personal Lawyer James McDonald as U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York

President Donald Trump stated Saturday that he will appoint James M. McDonald, one of his personal lawyers, to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. McDonald is slated to become the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), a highly influential position within the Justice Department.

McDonald is a former federal prosecutor who previously served in the White House counsel’s office during President George W. Bush’s administration. He is currently a partner at the Sullivan & Cromwell law firm and a member of the legal team handling Trump’s pending appeal of felony convictions in New York concerning hush money payments.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York holds oversight of one of the Justice Department’s most prestigious prosecution offices. Its extensive portfolio encompasses cases ranging from terrorism and espionage to security fraud and public corruption.

McDonald will succeed Jay Clayton, whom President Trump has nominated as his pick for the Director of National Intelligence. This announcement comes amid ongoing pressure from Congress to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned as national intelligence director last month. Trump had previously faced pushback regarding the appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director.

President Trump expressed confidence in McDonald on the Truth Social platform, stating, “I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country.” Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, welcomed the choice, noting that “Mr. McDonald is widely respected.”

According to Fortune, McDonald also previously served as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Trump's first term and secured a favorable outcome for Indian billionaire Gautam Adani when a fraud and conspiracy case was dropped.