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Manhattan U.S. Attorney to Expand White‑Collar Unit as DOJ Focus Shifts Under Trump

04:30 AM, 12/05/2025
Manhattan U.S. Attorney to Expand White‑Collar Unit as DOJ Focus Shifts Under Trump

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton told a Semafor audience he will expand SDNY’s white‑collar prosecution team even as the Justice Department under President Trump emphasizes immigration and drug enforcement. Clayton highlighted SDNY’s operational independence, pointed to the recent indictment of 777 Partners executives, and noted the office’s work on fentanyl enforcement and oversight of Jeffrey Epstein files. He declined to discuss specific pardon cases but defended constitutional checks, invoking Justice Robert Jackson on the judiciary’s final role.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney: White‑Collar Team Will Grow Despite New DOJ Priorities

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton sought to allay concerns from New York’s white‑collar defense bar that federal prosecutors would be diverted by the Justice Department’s emphasis on immigration and drug enforcement under President Donald Trump. Speaking at a Semafor event on Tuesday, Clayton said,

“The defense bar shouldn’t worry about the breadline… We’re going to increase the size of our white‑collar group… let those folks know they can still pay for college.”

Clayton emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) has long operated with considerable independence from the Justice Department in Washington, allowing it to pursue complex financial and other crimes in its jurisdiction. He said the office is balancing core white‑collar work — including this fall’s indictment of executives at 777 Partners — while also addressing White House priorities such as fentanyl enforcement and managing the sensitive release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The U.S. Attorney also addressed questions about presidential pardons for politically connected defendants. He declined to comment on individual cases but defended the role of institutional checks in the constitutional system, noting judicial review as a safeguard. Quoting former Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, Clayton said,

“We’re not final because we’re infallible. We’re infallible because we’re final. They have the final word. And in the pardon, the president has the final word.”

Why it matters: An expanded white‑collar team at SDNY signals continued federal attention to financial crime in New York even as the broader DOJ prioritizes immigration and narcotics enforcement. The remarks aim to reassure defense attorneys and the public that high‑profile corporate and financial investigations will remain a priority for one of the country’s most influential prosecutor’s offices.

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