Jamaican-American Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced his decision to resign from his position ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Williams, who is the son of a Jamaican-born immigrant physician, stated that his resignation will take effect at 11:59 PM on Friday, December 13, 2024.
In a statement reflecting on his tenure, Williams described his departure as “bittersweet,” expressing both pride and sadness. He noted that it is “bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love, one that is filled with the finest public servants in the world.” However, he also called it “sweet” because of the high level of performance and integrity the office has maintained during his leadership.
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to work alongside the career attorneys, staff members, and law enforcement agents in this office,” Williams said. “They are patriots, they are my family, and I will miss them dearly.” He also thanked President Joe Biden for nominating him in 2021, as well as U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for his support throughout Williams’ time in office.
Damian Williams, who was born in New York City and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area by parents from Frome, Westmoreland, Jamaica, has made significant strides in his legal career. He is the first black U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
An alumnus of Harvard University and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Williams furthered his legal education at Yale Law School before embarking on a law career.
Williams’ resignation comes as Trump has already named his pick for Williams’ successor—Jay Clayton, a former corporate lawyer and the top Wall Street enforcer during the first Trump administration. Clayton has made clear his intention to continue Trump’s efforts to seek revenge against those who prosecuted him in New York. The nomination of Clayton, who Trump has called “a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant,” must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The Southern District of New York is one of the most prestigious and influential federal prosecutor’s offices in the country, making Williams’ departure a significant moment in the U.S. legal landscape.
In September, he was at the center of a major legal storm following his office’s indictment of Sean Combs, also known as “Puff Daddy” or “P. Diddy.”
