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| Preet Bharara, high profile US prosecutor, says he was fired | |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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 honour 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| He has also prosecuted both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. | |
| 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!" | 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!" |
| On Saturday, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement: "President Trump's abrupt and unexplained decision to summarily remove over 40 US attorneys has once again caused chaos in the federal government." | |
| "Preet Bharara, like many of the US attorneys dismissed this week, served with honour and distinction." | |
| However, ex-Republican strategist Brian Walsh argued that the firing was "nothing new" as "US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the [president] - even Preet". | |
| Mr Bharara's office and the Justice Department refused to comment further, according to the Associated Press. | Mr Bharara's office and the Justice Department refused to comment further, according to the Associated Press. |