Sen. Charles E. Schumer has recommended that Pres. Obama name his chief counsel, Preet Bharara (pictured), as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The NY Times reports that although Schumer’s backing does not guarantee that Bharara will get the post, it makes him the clear front-runner.
The SDNY US Attorney position, based in Manhattan, is widely regarded as among the most important and prestigious federal prosecutor’s positions outside Washington, as the office has a strong focus on securities fraud and white-collar crime, public corruption and terrorism. The office handles federal cases in Manhattan, the Bronx and six counties north of the city. Past US Attorneys from the SDNY include Robert M. Morgenthau, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Robert B. Fiske Jr., Henry L. Stimson, Elihu Root and James B. Comey, the NY Times reports.
