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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 15 March 2017
Fired US attorney in Manhattan replaced by longtime friend

Law School. Rodgers once just bent over laughing,”
worked with Kim on a case McGovern said.
against Peter J. Gotti, a son In 2009, when South Korea
of the late Gambino crime reformed its judicial system,
boss John Gotti Jr. the country asked Kim to
Sharp and self-deprecat- come and train its prosecu-
ing, Kim puts people at tors, said Victor Hou, who
ease with a regular-guy worked with Kim both in
look and ability to explain government and private
even the most complex of practice.
issues in everyman terms, A graduate of Phillips Ex-
colleagues say. eter Academy, Stanford
“He is one of the funniest and Harvard Law School,
guys I’ve ever met in my Kim worked in the federal
life,” said Michael McGov- prosecutor’s office from
ern, who tried a host of 2000 to 2006 before he
cases against the Gambi- joined the Manhattan firm
nos with Kim, including two Cleary Gottlieb, where he
hung-jury cases against helped defend Citibank
John Gotti Jr. against charges of manip-
“Even in the toughest of ulating interest rates.
cases, when either at the In 2013, Bharara brought
end of the day or while the him back as his chief coun-
jury is deliberating, we’re sel, describing him in a
sitting there in the trial memo to staff as “an in-
room, sometimes late into credibly exacting lawyer
the evening, he’d have me with unerring judgment.”q

In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,
Joon Kim poses for a photo. Kim, 45, will be acting U.S. attorney
in the Southern District of New York until President Trump nomi-
nates a candidate for the job who can be confirmed by the Sen-
ate.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office via AP)

JAKE PEARSON to hum along,” said Lev
Associated Press Dassin, who served as act-
NEW YORK (AP) — Preet ing U.S. attorney in Man-
Bharara, the high-profile hattan for eight months
federal prosecutor who beginning in December
was fired by President Don- 2008 after Michael Garcia
ald Trump’s administration resigned.
after refusing to resign, has Kim’s promotion comes
been replaced temporarily after a public confronta-
by a longtime friend and tion between the Trump
top adviser. administration and Bha-
Joon H. Kim, 45, who had rara, 48, who was asked
previously served as Bha- to resign last week with 45
rara’s chief counsel, crimi- other prosecutors appoint-
nal division head and top ed during President Barack
deputy, will be acting U.S. Obama’s administration.
attorney in the Southern Bharara had said in No-
District of New York until vember that Trump had as-
Trump nominates a candi- sured him that the job was
date for the job who can his to keep.
be confirmed by the Sen- A spokesman for the pros-
ate. That process could ecutor’s office didn’t re-
take months. spond to a request for an
In the meantime, Kim, the interview.
son of a South Korean diplo- Kim’s former colleagues
mat who came up through said that there was no rea-
the ranks of the U.S. at- son to believe he would
torney’s office in Manhat- pursue existing cases any
tan prosecuting organized differently following Bhara-
crime and terrorism cases ra’s high-profile departure.
with his old boss, isn’t likely “The nice thing here is
to stop pursuing the kinds that Preet and Joon have
of cases that have made been working together for
the Manhattan prosecu- quite a while,” said Jenni-
tor’s office known for its fer Rodgers, the executive
reach and breadth, former director of the Center for
colleagues say. the Advancement of Pub-
“I think things will continue lic Integrity at Columbia