Lawyers from the prominent U.S. law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, who are representing President Donald Trump in personal lawsuits, are being appointed to key positions within the Justice Department, Politico reported on July 12.
According to the report, Sullivan & Cromwell is handling appeals related to 34 business fraud charges against Trump, as well as civil fraud cases in New York. The firm has represented Trump in various personal legal matters.
In this second term, Trump has appointed lawyers from this firm to significant roles within the Justice Department. Notably, Jay Clayton has been nominated as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Clayton is currently awaiting confirmation while maintaining his position as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
James McDonald, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and a member of Trump’s legal team, has been nominated to fill the vacancy left by Clayton at the Southern District of New York. McDonald has been appointed as the Deputy U.S. Attorney and will assume the role of U.S. Attorney upon confirmation. During Clayton's confirmation process, McDonald will oversee the office's operations, as reported by The New York Times. McDonald has also worked at Sullivan & Cromwell for over five years, serving as Trump's litigation attorney.
CBS News cited a former official from Trump’s Justice Department, stating that Sullivan & Cromwell understands the dynamics of Washington well and recognizes that maintaining proximity to the president is the best strategy in the current environment. Politico highlighted the close relationship between Trump and Robert Giuffra Jr., co-chair of Sullivan & Cromwell.
However, the appointment of individuals with backgrounds as personal attorneys to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has drawn criticism from Democrats and within the law firm. The Southern District is considered a key institution within the Justice Department, handling major financial and corruption cases centered around Wall Street. According to Politico, prominent attorney Karen Seymour resigned in April 2025, just three months after Trump appointed Sullivan & Cromwell.
Additionally, Matthew Schwartz, another attorney from Sullivan & Cromwell who represented Trump, has been nominated as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Schwartz testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in May, pledging to resign from Trump’s cases and to rule without fear or favor. However, his nomination is still pending.
A spokesperson for Sullivan & Cromwell stated, “The decision to represent President Trump was made after discussions with nearly 200 partners, including the managing partner and the management committee,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Sullivan & Cromwell is recognized as a leading global law firm based in New York. Founded on Wall Street in 1879, the firm has handled numerous high-profile cases, including the establishment of Edison General Electric Company in 1882. According to the firm's LinkedIn page, it employs 875 attorneys.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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