The former top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, who resigned last month under pressure from Attorney General William Barr, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week about the circumstances of his departure, according to an aide to Congress.
The July 9 closed-door interview will be the first foray by Congress into the allegations that Barr attempted to eliminate Geoffrey Berman as the US attorney to assert tighter control over investigations that closely relate to partners and personal interests of President Donald Trump. Barr has denied the suggestion.
But Berman’s departure followed a series of strange steps taken by Barr and Trump that remain shrouded in mystery. Barr announced Berman’s departure in a nightly statement on June 19, a Friday, which described his resignation as a volunteer. Barr announced that New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito would succeed him temporarily, and that Jay Clayton, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, would be nominated by Trump to replace him permanently.
