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Trump Taps His Ex-SEC Chair Jay Clayton as U.S. Attorney for Manhattan
News November 15, 2024 at 11:59 AM
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What You Need To Know
- The Southern District of New York is known for its independent streak and for handling high-profile and complex cases.
- As SEC chair, Clayton focused on protecting retail investors and cultivated relationships with Republicans and Democrats.
- Clayton has no experience as a federal prosecutor.
President-elect Donald Trump is tapping former regulator Jay Clayton to be U.S. attorney for Manhattan and two of his own criminal defense attorneys for powerful positions in the Justice Department, fleshing out his top picks to reshape American law enforcement.
Trump’s plans for the Justice Department have been for months a lightning rod and his choice of embattled lawmaker Matt Gaetz as attorney general sparked a political firestorm this week. Clayton, who led the Securities and Exchange Commission in Trump’s first administration, as well as former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche for deputy attorney general and Emil Bove as principal associate attorney general, are far less controversial choices.
Trump has indicated that he’ll push for a radical transformation of the Justice Department, which has more than 115,000 employees. The department is central to what Trump will need to carry out his agenda from enforcing federal laws to litigating controversial matters. On the campaign trail, Trump also signaled his willingness to use the department to pursue perceived adversaries.
The incoming administration’s priorities for law enforcement are likely to include immigration-related and violent crimes. The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office is famous for tackling complex financial cases and appointees are historically veterans of the office.
Wall Street Sheriff
For Clayton, the Manhattan U.S. attorney position would mark a shift to criminal law. Since leaving government at the end of Trump’s administration, Clayton has served as Apollo Global Management Inc.’s independent chair and returned to New York-based law firm Sullivan & Cromwell as a senior adviser.
Clayton has no experience as a federal prosecutor, a rarity for someone appointed to the position of U.S. attorney. If confirmed, the role, often dubbed the Sheriff of Wall Street, will put Clayton in charge of high-profile cases including the prosecution of New York Mayor Eric Adams.
As SEC chair under Trump, Clayton mostly succeeded in casting himself as an independent voice focused on protecting small-time investors from fraud and financial industry abuses rather than waging ideological fights. He cultivated relationships with Republicans and Democrats.
“Jay is a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, saying that Clayton did “an incredible job” as SEC Chair during his first term.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, often called the “sovereign district” for its independent streak, clashed with Trump officials during his first presidency as it led a series of investigations targeting members of his inner circle. It will be the second time Clayton has been put forward for the job.
