President Donald Trump announced Saturday his intent to nominate James M. McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, replacing Jay Clayton who was nominated earlier this week as director of national intelligence.

McDonald, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, currently serves as a litigation partner at Sullivan & Cromwell law firm. He has recently worked as Trump's personal attorney, handling the appeal of Trump's Manhattan criminal conviction on 34 felony counts related to concealing a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. That appeal remains pending.

If confirmed, McDonald would oversee one of the Justice Department's most prominent prosecution offices, handling cases ranging from terrorism and espionage to securities fraud and public corruption. The Southern District of New York is widely regarded as the most prestigious federal prosecutor's office in the country.

McDonald brings extensive government experience to the role. He served as director of enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Trump's first presidency and worked as deputy associate counsel in the White House under President George W. Bush. Recently, he was part of a legal team that secured the dismissal of fraud and conspiracy charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after the Trump administration Justice Department dropped the case that had been initiated under the Biden administration.

Trump expressed confidence in the nomination, posting on Truth Social that he believes McDonald "will deliver strong results for our Country." Nicholas Biase, spokesperson for the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, said the office "welcomes the President's choice to lead the SDNY" and described McDonald as "widely respected."

Clayton's move to the intelligence director role comes amid congressional pressure to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned from the position last month. Trump had faced criticism for his decision to name Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.