Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Trump announces pick to lead U.S. attorney's office that indicted Mayor Eric Adams
By
Louis C. Hochman
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 14, 2024
Modified Nov 14, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
John Lamparski/WireImage
By
Louis C. Hochman
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 14, 2024
Modified Nov 14, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his pick to lead the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York — the same office that's prosecuting Mayor Eric Adams on corruption charges.
Trump said he'll nominate Jay Clayton of New York, who served as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during his first first term. Damian Williams, the current head of the office, hasn't yet announced his own plans.
It's unclear what the selection will mean for the SDNY's indictment accusing the mayor of taking campaign contributions and lavish gifts from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors. Trump has said he was skeptical of the indictment and accused federal authorities of going after Adams because he criticized the Biden administration's border policies, as tens of thousands of migrants streamed into the city.
“They went after you, mayor,” Trump said to Adams at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in October. “But you're going to win."
Before and after his stint at the SEC, Clayton worked at the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell, according to the firm's website and a statement issued by Trump Thursday. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Cambridge. Clayton is also an adjunct professor at Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, from which Trump graduated in 1968.
Trump, in his statement, said Clayton, "is a highly respected business leader, counsel and public servant."
Clayton is the latest New York state figure Trump has named to join his administration. He said he’ll nominate Lee Zeldin, a former Long Island member of Congress who lost as the Republican candidate in the 2022 gubernatorial race against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And Trump plans to nominate upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
All of those positions require U.S. Senate confirmation.
Clayton did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Gothamist.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Politics
us attorney's office
Louis C. Hochman
After about two decades in (mostly) New Jersey-focused commercial print, digital and digital-but-radio-adjacent news, Lou stumbled into member-supported news in early 2021, as the editor and CEO of Montclair Local. There, he (hopes he) expanded enterprise, brought more sophistication to digital storytelling and moved the nonprofit newsroom closer to long-term financial sustainability. He helped lead the Local to its fourth consecutive General Excellence award from the New Jersey Press Association — the NJPA's highest honor with judges noting the paper's work to strip away layers of government opacity, to hold power to account, to make news accessible for more members of the community, to share the stories and concerns of more facets of the community and to tell compelling stories across multiple media. He's excited to continue the same ethic — news as a public service — at NYPR as the New Jersey and suburbs editor, drawing on the extraordinary talents of reporters including Karen Yi and Nancy Solomon. Lou lives in Philly (that commute!) with his partner and their two cats, about whom and about which he speaks incessantly.
Read more
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD arrests 25-year-old who stabbed a man to death on the J train
Police identified 59 year-old Mesias Lojano, who died after an unprovoked attack during Wednesday afternoon's rush hour commute.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 11:50 a.m. ET
Judge orders psych evaluation for man accused of killing woman in Central Park
Jonathan Robles faces a second-degree murder charge.
By
Samantha Max
News
Judge orders psych evaluation for man accused of killing woman in Central Park
Jonathan Robles faces a second-degree murder charge.
By
Samantha Max
Landslide or nailbiter? For House hopefuls, NY Gov. Hochul’s margin matters
By
Jon Campbell
NY Dems push bill in Congress to restore healthcare coverage, putting GOP on the spot
By
Caroline Lewis
Lost SNAP benefits? NYC says you can reapply for 3 more months of aid
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .