The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia has withdrawn her nomination to become associate attorney general, the Justice Department confirmed Thursday.
A reason was not given for why she decided not to pursue the opportunity to become the third highest ranking official at the Justice Department.
Instead, she will serve as chairwoman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, the department said in a statement.
“Jessie Liu is one of the finest, most impressive people serving in the Department of Justice,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. “I have zero doubt she would have faithfully executed my priorities and advanced my rule-of-law agenda.”
The position at the Justice Department has been open since February 2018, when Rachel Brand left to take a job as a lawyer for Walmart. President Trump nominated Ms. Liu earlier this month.
The associate attorney general oversees the Justice Department’s civil, civil rights and antitrust division along with the office managing police reform.
Ms. Liu has served as the top federal prosecutor in Washington since September 2017. Her office has been involved in several aspects of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, including the prosecution for former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and longtime associate Roger Stone.
She has also served as a member of Mr. Trump’s transition team.
Earlier this week, Mr. Trump formal nominated Jeffrey Rosen, the Transportation Department deputy secretary, to the No. 2 post at the Justice Department. Mr. Rosen is set to replace Rod Rosenstein who agreed to stay on a little bit longer to help win down the Mueller probe.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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