Breaking: Trump suddenly pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post [View all]

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.axios.com/trump-jessie-liu-treasury-us-attorney-838d1a3b-1d4d-414c-ac7d-77a7ba6d4edb.html

Scoop: Trump pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post

Jonathan Swan, Zachary Basu

President Trump is withdrawing his nomination for former U.S. attorney for D.C. Jessie Liu to serve as the Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial crimes, a top position overseeing economic sanctions, according to two sources with direct knowledge.

The big picture: Liu was confirmed in September 2017 to lead the largest U.S. attorney's office in the country, overseeing a number of politically charged prosecutions that included the case against Trump associates Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and other spinoffs from the Mueller investigation.

Liu stepped down from the U.S. attorney's office last month after Trump announced his intention to nominate her to the Treasury position in December 2019.

Liu was expected to stay in her position through her confirmation — with a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee scheduled for this Thursday — but was unexpectedly informed last month that Attorney General Bill Barr was replacing her with his close adviser Timothy Shea.

She was informed that Trump was pulling her nomination Tuesday afternoon.

Behind the scenes: This was "the president's call," according to a former administration official familiar with the situation. The decision, which was made today, has administration officials questioning the circumstances that led to Trump changing his mind — with the developments in the Roger Stone case today being the only possible one they are aware of.

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Link to tweet

Rachel Maddow MSNBC ✔@maddow

Flynn and Stone sentencings have gone haywire since DC US Attorney Jessie Liu was replaced an aide to AG Bill Barr.

Liu was slated for a Treasury job instead.

White House has now withdrawn that nomination.

Axios:"This was 'the president's call'."

https://www.axios.com/trump-jessie-liu-treasury-us-attorney-838d1a3b-1d4d-414c-ac7d-77a7ba6d4edb.html …

Scoop: Trump pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post - Axios
She oversaw a number of politically charged investigations.

7:17 PM - Feb 11, 2020

Link to tweet

Jonathan Swan ✔@jonathanvswan

SCOOP: Trump suddenly pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post

https://www.axios.com/trump-jessie-liu-treasury-us-attorney-838d1a3b-1d4d-414c-ac7d-77a7ba6d4edb.html …
Scoop: Trump pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post - Axios
She oversaw a number of politically charged investigations.

Jonathan Swan ✔@jonathanvswan

Liu was confirmed in September 2017 to lead the largest U.S. attorney's office in the country, overseeing a number of politically charged investigations that included the case against Trump associates Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and other spinoffs from the Mueller investigation.

6:53 PM - Feb 11, 2020

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Chris Lu ✔@ChrisLu44

This is getting even crazier. Now the U.S. attorney who oversaw the Stone prosecution seems to be getting punished. And this is happening after she gave up her job to a Barr associate.

6:58 PM - Feb 11, 2020

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Quinta "Pro Quo" Jurecic ✔ @qjurecic

yes, it seems like this was all very well thought out

Jonathan Swan ✔@jonathanvswan

SCOOP: Trump suddenly pulls former U.S. attorney for D.C.'s nomination to Treasury post ... https://www.axios.com/trump-jessie-liu-treasury-us-attorney-838d1a3b-1d4d-414c-ac7d-77a7ba6d4edb.html …

Quinta "Pro Quo" Jurecic ✔@qjurecic

Liu was scheduled to testify in front of the Senate for her confirmation hearing this week. Would have faced a lot of questions about Stone.

6:56 PM - Feb 11, 2020