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High profile US prosecutor Bharara says he was fired | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A New York federal prosecutor who refused to resign when he and 45 other prosecutors were asked to by the Trump administration says he has been sacked. | |
"I did not resign. Moments ago I was fired," said Preet Bharara on Twitter. | |
Mr Bharara was first asked to remain in his post by President Donald Trump, when they met after the election. | |
But on Friday he was included in a list of prosecutors appointed by former President Barack Obama who were asked by the Justice Department to step down. | |
Mr Bharara's tweet continued: "Being the US Attorney in SDNY (South District New York) will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life." | |
Presidents often order appointees of the previous administration to resign but the decision to replace so many in one swoop raised eyebrows. | |
Mr Bharara's inclusion in the list came as a particular surprise. He told reporters in November that he had been asked by Mr Trump to stay on, and had agreed. | |
The prosecutor rose to prominence after pursuing high-profile corruption cases and cases against Wall Street bankers. | |
He won a $1.8 billion ($1.5 billion) insider-trading case against hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors, the largest in history. SAC was forced to close down. | |
And among his current cases was an investigation into fundraising by New York mayor Bill de Blasio. | |
After it was reported on Saturday that he had refused to resign, top New York Republican Brian Kolb tweeted: "Good for Preet, he is doing the job he was appointed to do!" | |
Mr Bharara's office and the Justice Department refused to comment further, according to the Associated Press. |