US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Jay Clayton, former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as District Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Clayton will take over from current District Attorney Damian Williams, who traditionally steps down when a president changes or could be fired January 21.
Trump claimed to be confident in Clayton by stating: "Jay is going to be a big Fighter for the Truth as we, Make America Great Again," a post on Truth Social claims.
In the event that Clayton's nomination is confirmed by the Senate, he will take Williams' place. The latter had last month filed charges against Vikash Yadav, a former officer of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Yadav has allegedly conspired a murder-for-hire plot to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, reports stated.
Williams had also indicted Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, as a co-conspirator in the plot. Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic to the US in June and faces separate proceedings in the Southern District of New York. He has pleaded not guilty, and his next hearing is scheduled for January 19.
Even if Williams quits, the case will continue under the aegis of lawyers in his office till the new prosecutor and Attorney General decides on further steps.
Trump has also nominated Matt Gaetz, former member of the House of Representatives, as his Attorney General, a choice that has come under controversy.
Yadav, named in the indictment as a "Senior Field Officer" of RAW, is now in India in jail for kidnapping and extortion charges. The FBI has even issued a "Wanted" poster for him. Yadav and Gupta are accused of trying to recruit whom they believed was a professional criminal but whom the government said actually was one of its agents, to assassinate Pannun.
The Southern District of New York is synonymous with glamorous cases, including investment cases, financial fraud cases, and market manipulation cases. With Clayton's experience as a former SEC head, the same is expected to be the right one to handle financial irregularity cases.
"He did an incredible job," Trump said while referring to Clayton's tenure at the SEC.
Read also| Biden Welcomes Trump as He Arrives in the Oval Office
Read also| Trump Names Matt Gaetz as Nominee for Attorney General
