Region's Top Federal Prosecutor Resigns at Behest of Trump Administration

After 7 years, there will be a change at the top in the U.S. Attorney's office in Albany.

Rick Hartunian, the region's top federal prosecutor, is stepping down at the request of the Trump administration.

Since his appointment in 2010, his office has prosecuted public officials, went after white-collar criminals, broken up street gangs, and dealt with the now-infamous, "death ray" case of Glendon Scott Crawford.

"There was a lot of collaboration and a lot of effort went into that case, and we used all kinds of investigative tools that we have at our disposal, many of which require judicial intervention and approval."

Among the more high-profile cases that Hartunian's office dealt with include corruption charges against former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and former Halfmoon Town Supervisor Mindy Wormuth.

"There's a lot of press interest in them obviously, they're aggressively defended, but we're committed always, the Department of Justice is, to making sure that our public officials serve the public and not themselves."

While Hartunian was among nearly 50 Obama-era prosecutors asked to resign by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, former Manhattan colleague Preet Bharara was fired by President Trump.

Hartunian was asked by News Channel 13 if he and Bharara were treated fairly.

"With respect to Preet, I'll let him speak for himself, but I'm just proud and honored to have been able to have this job, to work with the great people that I've worked with, and to make the kind of impact that I think we've made, and I hope history will judge that we have made."

Hartunian adds that he is expecting nothing but good things in his future.

"I'm gonna take a little time off, enjoy myself with my family, maybe do a little fishing and a little relaxing, and then later in the summer, I'm going to be joining a national law firm and working in the private sector.

First Assistant Grant Jaquith has stepped in as the Acting U.S. Attorney.

Photo: Getty Images


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