President Trump’s nominee to replace U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman after his messy firing wouldn’t commit to recusing himself from pending investigations involving Trump’s interests and associates upon his potential confirmation.
Come on, gang. You need to mistrust any Trump nominee ipso facto. If Trump names a name, the fix is in.
Correct me if I am mistaken, but I don’t think Clayton has actually been nominated for the position yet. Trump often announces nominees, then yanks them before they are formally nominated.
Barr’s bully boy tactics backfire bigly.
“Mr. Clayton wanted to go back to New York City,” McEnany told reporters during a White House press briefing. “We wanted to keep him in government and therefore he was given the position at SDNY.”
That, and the fact he is a subservient toadie, are the total sum of his qualifications.
Ethical experts need not apply for jobs in this administration
Last I heard, Clayton lacked experience with criminal prosecution.
There was cause to believe he’d be blue slipped by NY’s Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
And Sen. Graham had said he’d honor the blue slip.
Now, Clayton says he won’t recuse himself from Trump related investigations.
Sounds like the nomination is DOA.
All that should be left is measuring for the coffin and writing the obituary.
A GOP corporate lawyer vows “to follow all ethical rules.” Sounds foolproof to me.
[“What I will commit to do, which is what I commit to in my current job, is to approach the job with independence and to follow all ethical rules,” Clayton said.]
Fuck Off, you fucking Democracy Gravedigger.
When asked by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on whether he can “commit, right here, to recusing yourself” from matters linked to the President, Clayton wouldn’t give a direct answer to the question.
Of course he won’t because the main reason for his appointment is to squash those investigations.
Let’s just hope that when McConnell forces his nomination through the Senate, the SDNY will start leaking like a sieve to the NY AG.
Looks like he passes Trump’s first loyalty test.
I know that appointing a lawyer with no prosecutorial experience as US Attorney for SDNY sounds irregular, but please consider how difficult it would be for an outgoing SEC chair to get employed in NYC. Guy is begging to “move back to NYC” (on government payroll). Give him a break! #DrainTheSwamp
You forgot to call bullshit on Clayton…
" I WILL take taxpayer money as my salary. I WON’T follow the law. Hire me. "
Recuse from Trump-related cases? Well, that would just defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?
I want to go back to NYC in the Fall. See a show. Get the steak frites at Odeon. That entitles me only to a large hotel bill, not a job I am not qualified in the least for.
I’m hoping it won’t even come to that because GOP senators will refuse to go on record and carry yet another anvil on their backs through the general election. There’s really nothing in it for several senators to confirm this clown, but for folks like Collins, Gardner, and McSally, it would be another nail in their coffins.
Graham is trying to play nice? Did he and Schumer have a round of golf recently?
Maybe time for Trump to remind Lindsey about “Mrs. Graham” and their deal.
Dunno.
When I read the article in the last week, one speculation was that he was preempting the need for a charged vote by fellows members. Saving them possible embarrassment in a contentious election season by letting Senate rules do the work.