Damian Williams, the prosecutor responsible for cases like Tornado Cash and Samourai Wallet, will step down as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced his resignation, effective December 13, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Appointed by President Joe Biden on October 10, 2021, Williams has led the district through cases that shaped public discourse on financial fraud, privacy tools, and the limits of federal authority.
During his tenure, Williams played a key role in securing the conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. He also initiated legal actions against the developers of Tornado Cash and Samourai Wallet, privacy tools linked to the world of digital assets.
Williams commented:
“Today is a bittersweet day. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world.”
“I thank President Biden for his trust and support. It has been an honor to serve the American people and uphold the highest standards of justice.”
Edward Y. Kim, currently Deputy U.S. Attorney, will temporarily assume the role upon Williams’ resignation. Kim will inherit a busy docket, including pretrial hearings for the Samourai Wallet case, scheduled for December 17.
The transition comes amid an evolving political landscape. President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Jay Clayton, former SEC Chairman, as the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
