Preet Bharara Is Said to Refuse Order to Step Down as U.S. Attorney

[babylonsister]

I imagine this has been posted? I just got home and my sister alerted me...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/us/politics/preet-bharara-us-attorney.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Preet Bharara Is Said to Refuse Order to Step Down as U.S. Attorney

By MAGGIE HABERMAN
MARCH 11, 2017


Preet Bharara, the Manhattan federal prosecutor who was told to submit his resignation along with 45 others on Friday, has no plans to do so — forcing a potential showdown with President Trump and the Department of Justice.

Mr. Bharara, whose office is overseeing a case against a top aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and an investigation into people close to Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, has told several people that he did not hand in a resignation on Friday, as he was ordered to do by the acting deputy attorney general, Dana Boente.

He also does not intend to do so over the weekend, he said in conversations with associates, a move that could force the hand of the Trump administration.

A spokesman for Mr. Bharara declined to comment.

Mr. Bharara was asked by Mr. Trump to remain in his current post in a meeting in late November, a few weeks after the presidential election. Mr. Bharara met with Mr. Trump at Trump Tower, and then addressed reporters afterward, saying that he had been asked to remain and had given the president his promise to do so.

But Mr. Bharara was one of the 46 holdovers from the Obama administration who abruptly received a call on Friday telling him to vacate.

Officials with the White House and the Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment about how they plan to handle Mr. Bharara.

more...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/us/politics/preet-bharara-us-attorney.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

[L. Coyote]

1. As they all should. Obstruction of Justice!

Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsified, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or any case filed under Title 11, or in relation to or contemplation of any such matter or case, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

Prosecutors charging violations of Section 1519 must still establish both of the following:

The accused knowingly directed the obstructive act to affect an issue or matter within the jurisdiction of any U.S. department or agency.
The accused acted at least “in relation to” or “in contemplation’” of such issue or matter.

[elleng]

2. Got it covered, b'sis!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141726058

LOVE New York!