The Justice Department abruptly announced late Friday night that it would replace the U.S. attorney in Manhattan who oversaw probes into several allies of President TrumpDonald TrumpMcCarthy to offer UC request to revisit foreign spending in omnibus GOP senator on Trump pardons: ‘This is rotten to the core’ Trump pardons Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner in latest round MORE^{[2][3][4][5][6][1]}, though the federal prosecutor said he had no plans to resign.

The Justice Department said in a press release^[7] that it is replacing Geoffrey Berman^[8], the powerful prosecutor for the Southern District of New York whose office ran the probe that sent Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael CohenMichael Dean CohenFormer Trump attorney Michael Cohen says he has earned early release from home confinement Pence may leave for overseas trip after certifying vote: report Judge rules Trump Org must turn over documents to NY AG as part of probe MORE^{[10][11][12][13][14][9]} to prison and is investigating the president’s current personal attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiLouisiana congressman-elect in intensive care after COVID-19 diagnosis CNN’s John Berman on Trump pardons: ‘Good night to be a corrupt Republican congressman’ Dominion Voting Systems employee sues Trump campaign, allies MORE^{[16][17][18][19][20][15]}.

“I thank Geoffrey Berman, who is stepping down after two-and-a-half years of service as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. With tenacity and savvy, Geoff has done an excellent job leading one of our nation’s most significant U.S. Attorney’s Offices, achieving many successes on consequential civil and criminal matters,” said Attorney General William BarrBill BarrTop Democrat: ‘Critical’ that Pompeo brief senators on SolarWinds hack at State Dept. Barr leaves behind conflicting legacy at DOJ Acting US Attorney overseeing Giuliani, Bannon probes to stay on MORE^{[22][23][24][25][26][21]}.

However, Berman pushed back and said he will not “step down” until a “presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate,” according to a statement from his office. He also said he found out he was being replaced when he read the Justice Department’s press release.