Schumer to recommend three Black lawyers to head US attorney offices in NY

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) will recommend that President Biden nominate three Black lawyers to head U.S. attorneys offices in New York.

Schumer said in a statement Tuesday that it would be the first time that African Americans would fill the positions in the Department of Justice.

“All three of these superb and accomplished attorneys have dedicated their careers to equal justice under the law and will bring a passion for the rule of law, civil rights and justice to their respective posts, as well as profound integrity and expertise to their offices,” Schumer said.

Schumer said he is recommending Damian Williams to serve as the first Black U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Williams currently serves as chief of the Securities and Commodities Task Force in the office, and served as an assistant U.S. Attorney from 2011-2018.

Williams prosecuted former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was sentenced to 78 months in prison in July after being convicted on corruption charges twice. He also prosecuted former Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), who was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2020 for insider trading.

Schumer also intends to recommend Trini Ross to lead the U.S. attorney’s office for the Western District of New York. Ross currently serves as the director of the Office of Investigations for the legal division of the National Science Foundation’s Office of Attorney General, a role she has held since 2018.

Ross previously spent more than 20 years as an assistant U.S. attorney for the criminal division of the Western District of New York. She would be the first Black woman to hold the position.

Schumer further said he intends to recommend Breon Peace to lead the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York. Peace is a partner at Clearly Gottlieb LLC, and was previously an assistant U.S. attorney for the office’s criminal division.

The Eastern District of New York is currently investigating New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) handling of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes.