Damian Williams, the US federal prosecutor who filed charges against a former Indian intelligence officer in a high-profile alleged "murder-for-hire" plot, has announced his resignation.
Williams, who serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, will step down on December 13, weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Williams played a key role in charging Vikash Yadav, a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for allegedly plotting the assassination of Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
According to the case, Yadav was accused of hiring a hitman to carry out the attack. The prosecution also implicated Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, as a co-conspirator. Gupta, who was extradited from the Czech Republic earlier this year, has denied the charges, and his trial is set to continue in January.
President-elect Trump has already named Jay Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the next District Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Trump’s pick for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, will oversee the case, pending Senate confirmation.
Williams expressed mixed emotions in his resignation statement, calling his decision to leave “bittersweet.” He highlighted the office’s achievements under his tenure and expressed confidence in its continued success.
Edward Kim, Williams’ deputy, will serve as acting prosecutor until a permanent replacement is confirmed.
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