Overview
- President Trump announced his intent to nominate James M. McDonald on June 13, 2026, to fill the SDNY vacancy created by Jay Clayton’s move to be Director of National Intelligence.
- McDonald is a former SDNY assistant U.S. attorney, led enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and is now a litigation partner at Sullivan & Cromwell.
- He has worked on Trump’s appeals team in the Manhattan hush‑money matter and on cases tied to major clients, which creates potential recusal and ethics reviews if he is confirmed.
- The Southern District of New York handles major financial, crypto, public‑corruption and national security prosecutions, so McDonald’s CFTC and private‑sector background could affect how those cases are pursued.
- The nomination must clear Senate confirmation, the SDNY spokesman called McDonald “widely respected,” and observers say confirmation hearings and any ethics rulings will signal how enforcement priorities may change.