AG William Barr testifies before Congress. (Image via AFP/Nicholas Kamm.)
On Friday evening, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman of the Southern District of New York, a key figure in the investigations against President Donald Trump's business associates, was being replaced against his will by Attorney General William Barr, who put forward as his replacement Jay Clayton, a lawyer who has represented one of Trump's major creditors.
Berman later shot back that he was not resigning.
The development triggered immediate outrage and suspicion on social media, with commenters warning it was another step to the destruction of the rule of law.
@kylegriffin1 “ as soon as I get my people in there” Trump said to Erdogan re SDNY.— Millard (@Millard) 1592617260.0
@kylegriffin1 After Mueller report, Barr redacts the entire rule of law.— Exploding Trumpaloompa Singh MD 🌊 (@Exploding Trumpaloompa Singh MD 🌊) 1592617347.0
@ryanjreilly @MaddowBlog Shocker: More obstruction from Barr on behalf of his orange overlord.— TheSheepleResistance (@TheSheepleResistance) 1592616572.0
@AP Post-election prosecution panic is setting in.— Blair Dayton (@Blair Dayton) 1592617778.0
@kylegriffin1 Trump is laying the groundwork for a fascist America.... Republic is in GRAVE Danger.— It's Time: Remove Trump!!! (@It's Time: Remove Trump!!!) 1592617327.0
@kylegriffin1 To be replaced by Jay Clayton. Clayton represented Deutsche Bank and defended them in the massive Rus… https://t.co/jvPA0jq5Hj— Erik Halvorsen (@Erik Halvorsen) 1592617597.0
@kylegriffin1 America is now officially a dictatorship. Trump will install a loyalist and magically all investigati… https://t.co/gyeaKTjgV8— Ash (@Ash) 1592617270.0
@kylegriffin1 I'd like confirmation that he was not forced to resign. This does not sit right.— Lizerenity (@Lizerenity) 1592617296.0
@Nikki22108272 @kylegriffin1 And again. And again. And...— Resist (@Resist) 1592617406.0
@kylegriffin1 @RepAdamSchiff It's time for a subpoena of Geoffrey Berman. The Kossacks are squeezing in everywhere.— PE Biden/VP Harris say "wear a mask" (@PE Biden/VP Harris say "wear a mask") 1592618610.0
