US Attorney General Jeff Sessions abruptly asked the remaining 46 chief federal prosecutors left over from the Obama administration to resign on Friday, including Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, who had been asked to stay on in November by then President-elect Donald Trump. A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed the resignation requests included Bharara, whose office handles some of the most critical business and criminal cases passing through the federal judicial system. A Justice Department spokesman said on Friday Trump had called Dana Boente, acting US deputy attorney general, to decline his resignation. Bharara’s priorities have often matched those set by Obama’s Justice Department, which potentially puts him at odds with the Trump administration. Robert Capers, US Attorney in Brooklyn, issued a statement saying he had been asked to resign.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 11, 2017 03:01 UTC