Geoffrey Berman

Geoffrey Steven Berman was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Marie (Edelman) and Ronald Berman, a developer of Trenton real estate properties.{{cite news |url=https://www.nj.com/mercer/2018/09/ron_berman_who_was_all_about_trenton_passes_away.html |title=Ron Berman, developer who was 'all about Trenton,' passes away |date=September 11, 2018 |website=NJ.com |first=Kevin |last=Shea |access-date=June 26, 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://obits.nj.com/obituaries/trenton/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-edelman&pid=188928885 |website=NJ.com |title=Ruth Edelman - Obituary |date=May 5, 2018 |access-date=June 26, 2020 }} He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School in 1981.{{cite news |last1=Smythe |first1=Christie |last2=Dolmetsch |first2=Chris |last3=Larson |first3=Erik |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-03/trump-administration-fills-17-interim-u-s-attorney-posts |title=Giuliani Law Partner Named Top New York Federal Prosecutor |work=Bloomberg News |date=January 4, 2018 |access-date=January 7, 2018 |quote=A native of Trenton, New Jersey, where his father was a real estate developer, Berman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 and its Wharton School. }} He then studied law at Stanford Law School, where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 1984.{{Cite web|url=https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-lawyer/articles/geoffrey-berman-at-the-helm-of-the-u-s-attorneys-office-southern-district-of-n-y/|title=Geoffrey Berman: At the Helm of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of N.Y.|last=Schmitt|first=Rick |date=November 19, 2018 |website=Stanford Law School|language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}} During law school, he was the Note Editor of the Stanford Law Review.{{cite web|title=Shareholder profile|url=https://www.gtlaw.com/en/professionals/b/berman-geoffrey-s |publisher=Greenberg Traurig|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020192033/https://www.gtlaw.com/en/professionals/b/berman-geoffrey-s |access-date=20 October 2017|archive-date=October 20, 2017 }}

Berman began his career as a clerk for Judge Leonard I. Garth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 1987 to 1990 he served as an associate to independent counsel Lawrence Walsh during the Iran–Contra affair investigation.{{Cite news |first=Alan |last=Feuer |date=August 14, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/nyregion/us-attorney-candidate-manhattan-geoffrey-berman.html|title=U.S. Attorney Candidate for Manhattan: A Canny Mind With Humor|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en}} There, he was part of a team that prosecuted former CIA employee Thomas G. Clines for tax fraud.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Berman served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1990 to 1994.{{cite news|last1=Feuer|first1=Alan|title=Trump May Nominate a Giuliani Law Partner as U.S. Attorney in Manhattan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/nyregion/trump-may-nominate-a-giuliani-law-partner-as-us-attorney-in-manhattan.html|access-date=20 October 2017|work=New York Times|date=August 7, 2017}} He worked on several tax and fraud cases as a prosecutor, including the Masters of Deception computer hacking case. As a result of Berman’s prosecution of that case, his effigy was stabbed on the front cover of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, a computer hacking magazine.{{Cite web |orig-date=Winter 1993-94 |title=wi931.gif (400x638) |url=https://2600.com/sites/default/files/wi931.gif |access-date=September 15, 2022 |website=2600 The Hacker Quarterly |series=Volume 10, Number 4, Winter 1993-94 |publisher=2600 Enterprises, Inc.}}

File:Geoffrey_Berman_Greenberg_Taurig.jpg (2014)]]

Berman was subsequently engaged by Mudge Rose and Latham & Watkins, where he worked as a monitor to rid the New York Carpenter’s Union of the influence of organized crime. From 1994 to 1997, Berman represented, pro bono, Maureen and Richard Kanka, defending the constitutionality of Megan’s Law in state and federal litigation. He married Joanne Karen Schwartz on August 20, 1994.{{cite news|title=Weddings – Joanne Schwartz, Geoffrey Berman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/21/style/weddings-joanne-schwartz-geoffrey-berman.html|access-date=8 November 2017|work=New York Times|date=August 21, 1994}}

Berman is a resident of New York, where he previously lived from 1984 to 2002. He then moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where he lived for 14 years. Berman was a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, as was Rudy Giuliani.{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Herb |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/08/07/report-nj-attorney-considered-top-manhattan-federal-prosecutor/546580001/ |title=Report: NJ attorney Berman being considered for top federal prosecutor in Manhattan |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=August 7, 2017 |access-date=January 7, 2018 |quote=Geoffrey Berman of Princeton was listed as a potential U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in a package of proposed candidates for New York judicial and prosecutorial vacancies sent to the state's U.S. senators in July, Buzzfeed said, citing a source familiar with the process. }} It was reported that Giuliani supported Berman for U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, but that Giuliani supported a different candidate for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.{{cite news|last1=Brodesser-Akner|first1=Claude |first2=Brent |last2=Johnson |title=It's a Christie vs. Giuliani fight to pick Trump's next U.S. attorney for N.J.|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2017/05/christies_criminal_defense_lawyer_a_finalist_for_n.html |access-date=20 October 2017|publisher=NJ Advance Media|date=May 31, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/nyregion/us-attorney-candidate-manhattan-geoffrey-berman.html|title=U.S. Attorney Candidate for Manhattan: A Canny Mind With Humor|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=2017-08-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Berman represented Philip Kwon, the deputy general counsel at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey during the Bridgegate trial.{{cite news|last1=Seidman|first1=Andrew|title=Bridgegate testimony: Christie seemed to approve of retaliation against mayors|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/20160928_Bridgegate_testimony__Christie_told_at_9_11_event_there_was_a__tremendous_amount_of_traffic__in_Fort_Lee.html |access-date=31 October 2017|publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=September 28, 2016}} He denied that Kwon was ever told the lane closures were intended to punish anyone.{{cite news|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/heres-unofficial-list-bridgegate-co-conspirators/|title=Here's the Unofficial List of Bridgegate Co-conspirators|work=WNYC News|date=2016-09-30|last=Bernstein|first=Andrea}}

File:Geoffrey Berman and Sonia Sotomayor.jpg Sonia Sotomayor in March 2019]]

After President Donald Trump fired Preet Bharara as U.S. Attorney, Trump interviewed Berman for the position.{{cite news |work=Politico |first1=Seung Min |last1=Kim |first2=John |last2=Bresnahan |date=October 19, 2017 |title=Trump personally interviewed U.S. attorney candidates |access-date=January 3, 2018 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/19/trump-us-attorney-interviews-243962}} Berman had performed some part-time volunteer work for the Trump transition.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/15/nyregion/independent-new-york-prosecutors-pose-potential-risk-for-trump.html|title=Independent New York Prosecutors Pose Potential Risk for Trump|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 April 2018|access-date=22 August 2018|last1=Weiser|first1=Benjamin|last2=Protess|first2=Ben}} On January 3, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Berman's appointment as U.S. Attorney, along with 16 other former prosecutors to various offices around the country on an interim basis until the Senate could confirm them.{{cite news |first1= Jonathan |last1=Dienst |first2= Tracy |last2=Connor |work=NBC News |title=Sessions uses executive authority to appoint interim U.S. attorneys |access-date=January 3, 2018 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sessions-uses-executive-authority-appoint-interim-u-s-attorneys-n834446 |date=January 3, 2018 }}{{cite news |first1=Matt |last1=Zapotosky |first2=Sari |last2=Horwitz |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Sessions names 17 interim U.S. attorneys, including in premier Manhattan office |access-date=January 3, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-names-17-interim-us-attorneys-including-in-premier-manhattan-office/2018/01/03/6f22ec2a-f0c3-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html |date=January 3, 2018 }}

The Trump administration never nominated Berman or most of the other interim appointments. On April 25, 2018, the Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York entered an order on behalf of a unanimous court appointing Berman U.S. Attorney pursuant to its authority under 28 U.S.C Section 546(d). Berman had the appointment indefinitely, until the Senate confirmed someone nominated by the president. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, often called the "Sovereign District of New York", is known as highly independent.{{cite book|last1=Beale|first1=Sara Sun|title=Prosecutors in the Boardroom: Using Criminal Law to Regulate Corporate conduct|publisher=NYU Press|year=2011|isbn=9780814787038|editor1-last=Barkow|editor1-first=Anthony S.|page=206|chapter=What Are the Rules if Everybody Wants to Play?|quote=Finally, in some multijurisdictional cases there have been turf battles rather than cooperation. For example, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York ..... Press accounts have noted the perception that the "'Sovereign District of New York'...doesn't necessar[il]y play well with others."|editor2-last=Barkow|editor2-first=Rachel E.|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BMUt-ZENDYcC&pg=PA206 }} Berman oversaw investigations into some of Trump's associates.{{Cite web|author1=Erica Orden|author2=Evan Perez|author3=Shimon Prokupecz|title=Manhattan US attorney in the spotlight with another high profile investigation of Trump's inner circle|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/politics/who-is-geoffrey-berman/index.html |date=October 12, 2019 |access-date=2020-06-07|website=CNN}}{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2020 |last=Scannell|first=Kara|title=US Attorney Geoffrey Berman asserts independence from Justice Department|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/politics/berman-independence-doj/index.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=CNN}}

In April 2018, Berman's office issued a search warrant of the office and hotel room of Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, for possible bank fraud and campaign finance violations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/geoffrey-berman-trump_us_5acc09dce4b0337ad1eb041c|title=U.S. Attorney Behind The Michael Cohen Raid Is A Trump Appointee|last=Terkel|first=Amanda|date=2018-04-10|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-04-10|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-seizes-records-related-to-stormy-daniels-in-raid-of-trump-attorney-michael-cohens-office/2018/04/09/e3e43cf4-3c30-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html|title=Trump attorney Cohen is being investigated for possible bank fraud, campaign finance violations|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|date=2018-04-09|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-04-10|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|last3=Barrett|first3=Devlin}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-thought-hed-picked-his-perfect-us-attorney-in-geoffrey-berman-he-was-very-wrong|title=Trump Thought He'd Picked His Perfect U.S. Attorney in Geoffrey Berman. He Was Very Wrong.|last=Daly|first=Michael|date=2018-04-11|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en}} Since Berman was recused by the U.S. Attorney General's Office from the investigation, he was apparently not involved in the decision to raid Cohen's office.{{Cite news |first1=Jonathan |last1=Karl |first2=Josh |last2=Margolin |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-attorney-trump-appointee-recused-michael-cohen-investigation/story?id=54365546 |title=US attorney recused from Michael Cohen investigation|date=2018-04-10|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2018-04-10}} That search was presumably conducted under the authority of Robert Khuzami, Berman's top deputy.{{Cite news |website=courthousenews.com |first=Adam |last=Klasfeld |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/ex-sec-chief-believed-to-be-behind-trump-attorney-raid/|title=Ex-SEC Chief Believed to Be Behind Trump Attorney Raid|date=2018-04-11|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}}

On August 8, 2018, U.S. Representative Chris Collins, his son Cameron, and the father of Cameron's fiancée, Stephen Zarsky, were arrested by the FBI and charged by Berman with insider trading and making false statements.{{Cite press release |website=justice.gov |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/congressman-christopher-collins-and-others-charged-manhattan-federal-court-insider|title=Congressman Christopher Collins And Others Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Insider Trading And Lying To Federal Law Enforcement Agents|date=2018-08-08|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/nyregion/chris-collins-insider-trading.html |title=New York Congressman Chris Collins Is Charged With Insider Trading |first1= Alan |last1=Feuer |first2= Shane |last2=Goldmacher |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 8, 2018|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/08/08/rep-christopher-collins-r-ny-charged-with-insider-trading-federal-prosecutors-announce/|title=Rep. Chris Collins charged with insider trading, federal prosecutors announce|last=Merle|first=Renae|date=2018-08-08|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-09-17}} Following the charges, House Speaker Paul Ryan kicked Collins off of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Collins suspended his reelection campaign.{{Cite news |first=Daniel |last=Chaitin |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/paul-ryan-kicks-chris-collins-off-house-committee-following-insider-trading-indictment|title=Paul Ryan kicks Chris Collins off House committee following insider-trading indictment|date=2018-08-08|work=Washington Examiner|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=August 12, 2018 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/11/politics/chris-collins-suspends-campaign/index.html|title=Chris Collins suspends re-election campaign following insider trading charges|author1=Maegan Vazquez |author2=Eric Bradner|work=CNN|access-date=2018-08-14}}{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/14a7553e29fb4868b047706b1d722a52 |title=NY Prosecutor's Colleagues Say He's No Trump Puppet|work=Associated Press|date=2019-02-26 |first=Larry |last=Neumeister |access-date=2019-03-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Collins subsequently pleaded guilty to insider trading and lying to the FBI and was sentenced to 26 months in prison.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/17/politics/collins-sentencing/index.html |date=January 18, 2020 |title=Former Rep. Chris Collins sentenced to 26 months in prison in insider trading case|author1=Caroline Kelly |author2=Sheena Jones|website=CNN|access-date=2020-02-18}}

On October 26, 2018, Berman charged Cesar Sayoc with sending a string of homemade incendiary packages to several present and former federal officials, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.{{Cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/cesar-altieri-sayoc-charged-30-count-indictment-mailing-improvised-explosive-devices|title=Cesar Altieri Sayoc Charged In 30-Count Indictment With Mailing Improvised Explosive Devices|date=2018-11-09|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}} Sayoc pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.{{Cite news|last1=Weiser|first1=Benjamin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/05/nyregion/cesar-sayoc-sentencing-pipe-bombing.html|title=Cesar Sayoc, Who Mailed Pipe Bombs to Trump Critics, Is Sentenced to 20 Years|date=2019-08-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-18|last2=Watkins|first2=Ali|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In October 2018, Berman charged five doctors and one pharmacist with narcotics distribution, including prescribing opioids to individuals who had no medical need for them. Berman said at his press conference: “These doctors and other health professionals should have been the first line of defense against opioid abuse, but as alleged in today's charges, instead of caring for their patients, they were drug dealers in white coats."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/nyregion/doctors-charged-opioid-prescriptions.html|title=Prescriptions for Millions of Opioid Pills Lead to Charges Against 5 Doctors|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|date=2018-10-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/video/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-charges-against-5-doctors-and-2-other-medical|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 5 Doctors And 2 Other Medical Professionals For Illegally Distributing Oxycodone|date=2018-10-24|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-07-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-charges-against-5-doctors-and-2-other-medical|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 5 Doctors And 2 Other Medical Professionals For Illegally Distributing Oxycodone|date=2018-10-11|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-07-19}} Five of the defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/fourth-manhattan-doctor-pleads-guilty-accepting-bribes-and-kickbacks-pharmaceutical-0|title=Fourth Manhattan Doctor Pleads Guilty To Accepting Bribes And Kickbacks From Pharmaceutical Company In Exchange For Prescribing Fentanyl Drug|date=2019-08-16|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}

In November 2018, Berman charged recording artist and performer Daniel Hernandez, better known as 6ix9ine, with six felony counts of racketeering and violence to aid racketeering. The most serious charge against Hernandez was "using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged", which can result in life in prison.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/recording-artist-and-performer-tekashi-6ix-9ine-and-five-other-members-and-associates|title=Recording Artist And Performer Tekashi 6ix 9ine And Five Other Members And Associates Of Violent New York City Gang Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering And Firearms Offenses|date=November 19, 2018|website=www.justice.gov}} In January 2019 Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charges.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/01/690824209/rapper-tekashi-6ix9ine-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges |first=Andrew |last=Flanagan |date=2019-02-01 |title=Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges|website=NPR.org}} He was sentenced to two years in prison.{{Cite news |date=December 18, 2019 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/us/tekashi-6ix9ine-guilty-sentencing/index.html|title=Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine sentenced to 2 years in prison for racketeering after flipping on gang associates|author1=Eric Levenson |author2=Lauren del Valle|website=CNN|access-date=2020-02-18}}

On November 26, 2018, Berman announced the indictment of former Honduran Congressman Tony Hernández on drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernández is the brother of former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández. On October 18, 2019, Tony Hernández was convicted at trial.{{Cite news|last1=Ernst|first1=Jeff|last2=Malkin|first2=Elisabeth|date=2018-11-26|title=Honduran President's Brother, Arrested in Miami, Is Charged With Drug Trafficking|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/world/americas/honduras-brother-drug-charges.html|access-date=2020-05-03|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=Former Honduran Congressman Tony Hernández Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States And Related Firearms And False-Statements Offenses|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-honduran-congressman-tony-hern-ndez-convicted-manhattan-federal-court-conspiring|date=2019-10-18|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}

On January 8, 2019, Berman charged Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer, with obstruction of justice in connection with a false and misleading declaration she submitted to a judge in the Southern District of New York. Berman said on announcing the indictment: "Fabricating evidence to affect the outcome of pending litigation not only undermines the integrity of the judicial process, but it threatens the ability of our courts and our government to ensure that justice is done."{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/russian-attorney-natalya-veselnitskaya-charged-obstruction-justice-connection-civil|title=Russian Attorney Natalya Veselnitskaya Charged With Obstruction Of Justice In Connection With Civil Money Laundering And Forfeiture Action|date=2019-01-08|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}}{{cite news |title=Meet The Federal Prosecutor Who Scares Trump More Than Mueller |work=The Beat with Ari Melber |first=Ari |last=Melber |author-link=Ari Melber |publisher=MSNBC |url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/meet-the-federal-prosecutor-who-scares-trump-more-than-mueller-1423052355820 |date=January 10, 2019 |access-date=2019-01-20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/nyregion/trump-tower-natalya-veselnitskaya-indictment.html|title=Veselnitskaya, Russian in Trump Tower Meeting, Is Charged in Case That Shows Kremlin Ties|last1=Weiser|first1=Benjamin|date=2019-01-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-20|last2=LaFraniere|first2=Sharon|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

On March 25, 2019, Berman charged Michael Avenatti with extortion in connection with his threat to Nike that he would go public with damaging allegations against Nike employees unless Nike paid him over $20 million. Berman said on announcing the charges: "A suit and tie doesn't mask the fact that, at its core, this was an old-fashioned shakedown."{{Citation|publisher=CNBC Television|title=Michael Avenatti told Nike 'company could die': US attorney|date=2019-03-25|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlPPIW4SYE|access-date=2019-07-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-avenatti/trump-foe-avenatti-charged-with-trying-to-extort-20-million-from-nike-idUSKCN1R622W |title=Trump Foe Avenatti Charged With Trying to Extort $20 Million From Nike |first1=Joseph |last1=Ax |first2=Brendan |last2=Pierson|date=2019-03-25|work=Reuters |access-date=2019-03-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Avenatti was convicted on all counts on February 14, 2020.{{Cite news|last=Ruiz|first=Rebecca R.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/us/michael-avenatti-nike-convicted.html|title=Michael Avenatti Is Convicted in Nike Extortion Trial|date=2020-02-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In April 2019, Berman brought the first ever drug trafficking charges against a pharmaceutical company and two of its executives, charging Rochester Drug Co-Operative and its former CEO, Laurence Doud III, with conspiring to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl and to defraud the DEA. In announcing the charges, Berman said, "This prosecution is the first of its kind: executives of a pharmaceutical distributor and the distributor itself have been charged with drug trafficking, trafficking the same drugs that are fueling the opioid epidemic that is ravaging our country. Our Office will do everything in its power to combat this epidemic, from street-level dealers to the executives who illegally distribute drugs from their boardrooms."{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/04/23/rochester-drug-cooperative-20-million-opioid-distribution-drug-enforcement-administration/3551283002/ |date=2019-04-23 |title=Opioids crisis: News conference on criminal charges against former Rochester drug company execs |first1=Gary |last1=Craig |first2=Sarah |last2=Taddeo |newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |via=usatoday.com |language=en|access-date=2019-07-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/nyregion/opioid-crisis-drug-trafficking-rochester.html|title=For First Time, Pharmaceutical Distributor Faces Federal Criminal Charges Over Opioid Crisis|last=Rashbaum|first=William K.|date=2019-04-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In May 2019, Berman charged Avenatti with another indictment, alleging that he stole $300,000 from his client Stormy Daniels. Berman said: "Far from zealously representing his client, Avenatti, as alleged, instead engaged in outright deception and theft, victimizing rather than advocating for his client."{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2019 |first1=Tom |last1=Winter |first2=Sarah |last2=Fitzpatrick |first3=David K. |last3=Li |first4=Dareh |last4=Gregorian |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michael-avenatti-charged-stealing-money-stormy-daniels-n1008901|title=Michael Avenatti charged with stealing almost $300K from Stormy Daniels|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}

In July 2019, Berman charged financier Jeffrey Epstein with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Berman said at his press conference: "The alleged behavior shocks the conscience. And while the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, it is still profoundly important to the many alleged victims, now young women. They deserve their day in court, and we are proud to stand up for them in bringing this indictment."{{Citation|last=PBS NewsHour|title=WATCH LIVE: Federal prosecutors announce charges against financier Jeffrey Epstein|date=2019-07-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_d0QdRSQ0M|access-date=2019-07-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/jeffrey-epstein-charged-manhattan-federal-court-sex-trafficking-minors|title=Jeffrey Epstein Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Sex Trafficking Of Minors|date=2019-07-08|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}} Berman's prosecution resurfaced then-Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta's handling of Epstein's sex trafficking case a decade earlier. On July 12, Acosta resigned amid pressure from the case.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/12/labor-secretary-alex-acosta-is-resigning-as-pressure-mounts-from-jeffrey-epstein-case.html|title=Trump's Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigns amid pressure from Jeffrey Epstein sex traffic case|last=Block|first=Kevin Breuninger, Valerie|date=2019-07-12|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}}

On August 10, 2019, Epstein was found dead in his cell of an apparent suicide. Berman stated: "Today's events are disturbing, and we are deeply aware of their potential to present yet another hurdle to giving Epstein's many victims their day in Court. To those brave young women who have already come forward and to the many others who have yet to do so, let me reiterate that we remain committed to standing for you, and our investigation of the conduct charged in the Indictment—which included a conspiracy count—remains ongoing."{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/statement-manhattan-us-attorney-death-defendant-jeffrey-epstein|title=Statement Of Manhattan U.S. Attorney On The Death Of Defendant Jeffrey Epstein|date=2019-08-10|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}}

On October 9, 2019, Berman announced charges against Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and two others for campaign violations relating to the illegal use of straw donors and foreign money.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/lev-parnas-and-igor-fruman-charged-conspiring-violate-straw-and-foreign-donor-bans|title=Lev Parnas And Igor Fruman Charged With Conspiring To Violate Straw And Foreign Donor Bans|date=2019-10-10|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}} Berman said: "They sought political influence not only to advance their own financial interests but to advance the political interests of at least one foreign official—a Ukrainian government official who sought the dismissal of the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine". Berman said the investigation was ongoing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/video/us-attorney-geoffrey-s-berman-announces-charges-against-lev-parnas-and-igor-fruman|title=U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman Announces Charges Against Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman for Conspiring to Violate Straw and Foreign Donor Bans|date=2019-10-11|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}}

On October 15, 2019, Berman announced the indictment of Halkbank, the largest state-owned bank in Turkey, for a multi-billion-dollar scheme to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran. In announcing the charges, Berman said: "The bank's audacious conduct was supported and protected by high-ranking Turkish government officials, some of whom received millions of dollars in bribes to promote and protect the scheme."{{Cite news |date=February 15, 2020 |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/02/report-barr-protected-turkish-bank-from-prosecution-to-appease-erdogan/|title=Report: Barr Protected Turkish Bank From Prosecution to Appease Erdogan|last=Spinelli|first=Dan|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/15/politics/william-barr-roger-stone-prosecutors-outrage/index.html|title=Attorney general's actions spark outrage and unease among US prosecutors|first1=Erica |last1=Orden |first2=Kara |last2=Scannell |website=CNN |date=February 15, 2020 |access-date=2020-02-18}} Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lobbied President Trump to quash Berman's investigation, as Erdogan's family and allies could be implicated by it.{{Cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|last2=Weiser|first2=Benjamin|date=2020-10-29|title=Turkish Bank Case Showed Erdogan's Influence With Trump|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/us/politics/trump-erdogan-halkbank.html|access-date=2020-10-29|issn=0362-4331}} In June 2019, Attorney General Barr pressed Berman to allow Halkbank to pay a fine and acknowledge some wrongdoing, and to end criminal investigations into senior Halkbank officials involved in the sanctions evasion. Previously, acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker rejected Berman's request to file criminal charges against the bank. Whitaker did so shortly after Erdogan had pressed Trump to quash the investigation.

On November 19, 2019, Berman charged guards Michael Thomas and Tova Noel with creating false records, and with conspiracy, after video footage obtained by prosecutors revealed that Jeffrey Epstein had, against regulation, been in his cell unchecked for eight hours before being found dead on August 10, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1218466/download |website=justice.gov |access-date=June 26, 2020 |title=United States of America v. Tova Noel and Michael Thomas}}

On January 27, 2020, at a press conference sponsored by Safe Horizon at the site of Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion, Berman was asked whether Prince Andrew was cooperating with the SDNY's investigation into Epstein's coconspirators. Berman responded that to date Andrew had provided "zero cooperation".{{Cite news|last=Hong|first=Nicole|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew.html|title=Prince Andrew Offers 'Zero Cooperation' in Epstein Case, Prosecutor Says|date=2020-01-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/08/prince-andrew-lawyers-accuse-us-doj-misleading-public-over-epstein-case |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 8, 2020 |first1=Owen |last1=Bowcott |first2=Amy |last2=Walker |access-date=June 26, 2020 |title=Prince Andrew in war of words with US prosecutors over Epstein }} On March 9, 2020, Berman said that Andrew had "completely shut the door" on voluntary cooperation and that his office was considering its options.{{Cite web|title=Prince Andrew has 'shut the door' on cooperating with Epstein investigation, prosecutor says |date=March 9, 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/uk/prince-andrew-epstein-investigation-gbr-intl/index.html|author1=Sonia Moghe |author2=Rob Picheta|website=CNN|access-date=2020-05-03}}{{Cite news|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=2020-03-09|title=Prince Andrew Is Stonewalling in Epstein Case, Prosecutor Says|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew.html|access-date=2020-05-12|issn=0362-4331}}

On February 11, 2020, Berman announced charges against Lawrence Ray, who sex trafficked and extorted his daughter's college roommates. Berman said: "For so many of us, and our children, college is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and newfound independence, a chance to explore and learn, all within the safety of a college community. But as alleged, the defendant exploited that vulnerable time in his victims' lives".{{Cite news|last1=Weiser|first1=Benjamin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/nyregion/larry-ray-sarah-lawrence-sex.html|title=Sarah Lawrence Parent Accused of Sex Trafficking and Abusing Students|date=2020-02-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-17|last2=Rashbaum|first2=William K.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=With Larry Ray's Arrest, Families of His Alleged Victims Breathe Sigh of Relief|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/larry-ray-arrest-brings-relief-to-alleged-victims-families.html|last=Marcus|first=James D. Walsh, Ezra|date=2020-02-11|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us|access-date=2020-05-03}}

On February 25, 2020, it was reported and confirmed by an SDNY spokesperson that a search warrant was executed at the Manhattan offices of Peter Nygård amid a sex-trafficking investigation.{{Cite news |url=https://apnews.com/5f3c63c2125cef90244d3f2e15f16a0f |title=FBI raids Canadian fashion mogul following sex abuse claims |date=February 26, 2020 |first=Jim |last=Mustian |website=Associated Press |language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}

On March 9, 2020, Berman announced the indictment of 27 people, including Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro, involved in doping racehorses across the country. Berman said, "The defendants who we charge today engaged in this conduct not for love of the sport and certainly not out of concern for the horses, but for money."{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-charges-27-defendants-racehorse-doping-rings|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 27 Defendants In Racehorse Doping Rings|date=2020-03-09|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}

On March 26, 2020, Berman announced the indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on charges of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and to import hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States and related weapons offenses. Berman said: "As alleged, Maduro and the other defendants expressly intended to flood the United States with cocaine in order to undermine the health and well being of our nation. Maduro very deliberately deployed cocaine as a weapon."{{Cite news |first1=Aaron |last1=Katersky |first2=Conor |last2=Finnegan |first3=Alexander |last3=Mallin |date=March 26, 2020 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/federal-prosecutors-announce-drug-charges-venezuelas-nicolas-maduro/story?id=69810913|title=Federal prosecutors announce drug charges against Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-26}}

On April 30, 2020, Berman announced drug trafficking and weapons charges against Juan Carlos "The Tiger" Bonillo, the former head of the Honduras National Police. Berman stated that the indictment alleged that Bonillo conspired with convicted former Honduran congressman Tony Hernández and his brother, former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández.{{Cite news |last1=González |first1=Marlon |last2=Sherman |first2=Christopher |date=2020-05-01 |title=US Prosecutors Signal Honduras Leader Is Target in Drug Case |language=en-US |work=ABC News |agency=The Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-prosecutors-signal-honduras-leader-target-drug-case-70461237 |access-date=2020-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503045706/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-prosecutors-signal-honduras-leader-target-drug-case-70461237 |archive-date=May 3, 2020}}

On April 30, 2020, Berman announced a deferred prosecution agreement against Bank Hapoalim, Israel's largest bank, for conspiring to hide assets and income in offshore accounts. Bank Hapoalim agreed to pay nearly $875 million. Berman said, "Israel's largest bank, Bank Hapoalim, and its Swiss subsidiary have admitted not only failing to prevent but actively assisting U.S. customers to set up secret accounts, to shelter assets and income, and to evade taxes. The combined payment approaching $1 billion reflects the magnitude of the tax evasion by the Bank's U.S. customers, the size of the fees the Bank collected to provide this illegal service, and the gravity of the illegal conduct."{{Cite news |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Israeli bank fined nearly $1 billion in U.S. tax evasion, money laundering cases|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israeli-bank-fined-nearly-1-billion-in-us-tax-evasion-money-laundering-cases/2020/05/01/855bc218-8b72-11ea-9dfd-990f9dcc71fc_story.html|first=Steve |last=Hendrix |newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}

On June 12, 2020, Berman announced the unsealing of a complaint against Inigo Philbrick, an art dealer with galleries in London and Miami, charged with defrauding a client of over $20 million. Berman said: "You can't sell more than 100 percent ownership in a single piece of art, which Philbrick allegedly did, among other scams. When his schemes began to unravel, Philbrick allegedly fled the country. Now he is in U.S custody and facing justice."{{Cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Jacob|date=2020-03-13|title=The Talented Mr. Philbrick|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/style/inigo-philbrick.html|access-date=2020-06-14|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|last=Reyburn|first=Scott|date=2020-06-13|title=Art World Wunderkind Arrested Months After Fleeing the U.S.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/arts/inigo-philbrick-arrested-art-dealer.html|access-date=2020-06-14|issn=0362-4331}}

In June 2020, CNN reported that Trump had been thinking about removing Berman from his position for two years. Under Berman, the SDNY investigated and prosecuted Trump's longtime personal attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen in 2018. Trump also felt Berman's investigation of his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was an effort to damage him politically.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/20/politics/berman-barr-trump-rule-of-law/index.html|title=Attempt to fire powerful NY prosecutor appears to be latest move to protect Trump|last=Collinson|first=Stephen|date=June 20, 2020|work=CNN|access-date=20 June 2020}} That investigation of Giuliani's activities in Ukraine became publicly known in October 2019, and later was reported to include a broad range of potential crimes by Giuliani or his associates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/us/politics/rudy-giuliani-investigation.html|title=Giuliani Is Said to Be Under Investigation for Ukraine Work|first1=Michael S.|last1=Schmidt|first2=Ben|last2=Protess|first3=Kenneth P.|last3=Vogel|first4=William K.|last4=Rashbaum|work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-subpoenas-seek-information-on-giulianis-consulting-business-11574712722|title=Federal Subpoenas Seek Information on Giuliani's Consulting Business|first=Rebecca Davis O’Brien, Rebecca Ballhaus and Shelby|last=Holliday|newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=November 25, 2019|via=www.wsj.com}} In May 2021, the SDNY publicly disclosed in a court filing that in November 2019 it covertly obtained search warrants for Giuliani's iCloud account, and for that of his and Trump's associate, Victoria Toensing, as part of the investigation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/politics/giuliani-search-review/index.html|title=Giuliani's attorneys argue recent search warrants are 'fruit of this poisoned tree' after 'illegal' iCloud search review in 2019|author=Erica Orden|website=CNN|date=May 17, 2021 }} In June 2020, the SDNY was also two months from indicting former Trump advisor Steve Bannon on fraud charges relating to fundraising for the Mexico–United States border wall.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/nyregion/steve-bannon-arrested-indicted.html|title=Steve Bannon Is Charged With Fraud in We Build the Wall Campaign|first1=Alan|last1=Feuer|first2=William K.|last2=Rashbaum|first3=Maggie|last3=Haberman|work=The New York Times |date=August 20, 2020|via=NYTimes.com}}

In a late-night news release on June 19, 2020, Attorney General William Barr announced that Berman would step down from his position. He said that Trump intended to nominate Jay Clayton, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to take Berman's place as the Manhattan U.S. attorney, and that Trump, on his recommendation, had appointed Craig Carpenito, the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, to serve as the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, effective July 3, 2020, while the Senate takes up Clayton's nomination.{{cite web |title=Attorney General William P. Barr on the Nomination of Jay Clayton to Serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barr-nomination-jay-clayton-serve-us-attorney-southern-district |publisher=United States Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs |access-date=20 June 2020 |date=19 June 2020}}{{Cite news |first1=Nathan |last1=Layne |first2=Sarah N. |last2=Lynch |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-newyork-idUSKBN23R02N|title=U.S. prosecutor who has investigated Trump lawyer refuses to resign|date=June 20, 2020|work=Reuters |access-date=June 26, 2020 }}

Shortly after Barr's announcement, Berman denied having resigned and said that he had "no intention of resigning," saying that he was appointed by a court, not the president, and that he would remain in office until the Senate confirmed a replacement. He added that he learned about his supposed intention to step down from press reports. He vowed to ensure that the office’s "important cases continue unimpeded."{{Cite web|title=Statement of US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman|url=https://twitter.com/sdnynews/status/1274178732476059650|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Twitter|language=en}} Because Berman was appointed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under 28 U.S.C. Section 546(d), it was unclear whether either the Attorney General or the President could remove Berman as US Attorney without a Senate-confirmed successor in place.{{Cite news|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|date=2018-04-25|title=With No Nomination From Trump, Judges Choose U.S. Attorney for Manhattan|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/nyregion/geoffrey-berman-us-attorney-manhattan.html|access-date=2020-06-20|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Geidner|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Geidner|date=2020-06-19|title=Tweet of Chris Geidner at Justice Collaborative|url=https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/1274178307765002240|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Twitter|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=28 U.S. Code § 546 - Vacancies|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/546|access-date=2020-06-20|website=LII / Legal Information Institute|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Bharara|first=Preet|author-link=Preet Bharara|date=2020-06-19|title=Live Interview with Preet Bharara, Former US Attorney|work=CNN Tonight with Don Lemon at 11:49 PM ET|quote=The legal question is not crystal clear.}}{{Cite web|last=Vladeck|first=Steve|author-link=Stephen Vladeck|date=2020-06-19|title=Tweet of Law Professor Steve Vladeck|url=https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1274179863604277248|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Twitter|language=en|quote=Berman is the Acting U.S. Attorney by dint of a *judicial* appointment. There’s a pretty good argument that, per the plain language of 28 U.S.C. § 546(d), he gets to keep serving in that post until the *vacancy* is filled (through Senate confirmation of a permanent successor).}} It was also unclear whether Carpenito is legally eligible to replace Berman on an acting basis.{{Cite web|last=Vladeck|first=Steve|date=2020-06-20|title=Tweet of Law Professor Steve Vladeck|url=https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1274194702796013569|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Twitter|language=en|quote=Because Berman was appointed under 546(d), even if the President can remove him, he can only be replaced by: 1) Someone nominated by the President & confirmed by the Senate; or 2) Someone *else* appointed by judges under 546(d). Carpenito is neither of those.}}

The next day, June 20, Barr claimed that Trump had fired Berman, writing in a letter to Berman, "Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so." Barr wrote in his letter, "Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service". Barr added "By operation of law, the Deputy United

States Attorney, Audrey Strauss, will become the Acting United States Attorney."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/20/politics/william-barr-geoffrey-berman-letter-fired-trump/index.html|title=READ: AG William Barr's letter telling US Attorney Geoffrey Berman he's been fired by Trump|date=June 20, 2020|work=CNN|access-date=20 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-fired-trump-william-barr-says-letter-1512357|title=U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman Fired By Trump, William Barr Says In Letter|last=Rogriguez|first=Eddy|website=Newsweek |date=June 20, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020}} When asked by reporters, Trump said, "That's his [Barr's] department, not mine. ... I'm not involved."{{cite web |last1=Goldiner |first1=Dave |title=Prosecutor fired: Barr says it was Trump's call, president says it was attorney general's decision |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-geoff-berman-prosecutor-schumer-20200620-6k6v56tkk5dvfj35zl4bqmyzle-story.html |website=NY Daily news |access-date=20 June 2020 |date=20 June 2020}} Later that day Berman agreed to step down because, he said, Barr had respected "the normal operation of law" by appointing his deputy as interim U.S. attorney.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/geoffrey-berman-us-attorney-william-barr-trump/2020/06/20/fcbfa3b4-b30f-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html |title=Trump ousts Manhattan U.S. attorney who investigated president's associates |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 20, 2020 |first1=Rosalind S. |last1=Helderman |first2=Ellen |last2=Nakashima |first3=Matt |last3=Zapotosky |first4=Seung Min |last4=Kim |access-date=June 26, 2020 }} Barr also wrote to Berman, "Your statement also wrongly implies that your continued tenure in the office is necessary to ensure that cases now pending in the Southern District of New York are handled appropriately. This is obviously false."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York stated that the firing "reeks of potential corruption of the legal process."{{Cite news|last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=2020-06-20|title=US attorney behind inquiries into Trump allies refuses to resign despite Barr announcement|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/20/us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-oversaw-prosecutions-of-trump-allies-abruptly-resigns|access-date=2020-06-20}} Schumer said from the Senate floor, "But for Mr. Berman’s principled stand, the White House and the DOJ would have subverted the chain of succession at the SDNY to install a pliant U.S. Attorney from New Jersey in Mr. Berman’s place. Thankfully, due to Mr. Berman’s courage that plan was thwarted".{{Cite web|title=Schumer Floor Remarks Demanding A Full Investigation Into The Firing Of US Attorney For SDNY Geoffrey Berman {{!}} Senate Democratic Leadership|url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schumer-floor-remarks-demanding-a-full-investigation-into-the-firing-of-us-attorney-for-sdny-geoffrey-berman|access-date=2021-02-10|website=www.democrats.senate.gov|language=en}} On June 20, 2020, House Judiciary Committee chair Jerry Nadler announced that the committee would "immediately open an investigation into this incident, as part of our broader investigation into Barr’s unacceptable politicization of the Department of Justice" and invited Berman to join two whistleblowers at an upcoming hearing about "a larger, ongoing, and wholly unacceptable pattern of conduct."{{Cite press release |first=Jerry |last=Nadler |date=June 20, 2020|title=Chairman Nadler Statement on Bill Barr's Purported Firing of SDNY Prosecutor|url=https://judiciary.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=BJVKUWHRNX35ZA3TFCVHOZ3FHM |website=judiciary.house.gov |access-date=June 21, 2020}} Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that Berman's firing “cannot be explained by cause and instead suggests base and improper motives. ... Judiciary Chairman Nadler’s renewed call for Barr to testify before the House Judiciary Committee and the Committee’s decision to open an immediate investigation into this incident are justified and urgently needed."{{Cite web|last=Pelosi|first=Nancy|date=June 20, 2020|title=Pelosi Statement on Removal of the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Manhattan|url=https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/62020-1|access-date=June 21, 2020|website=Speaker of the House Newsroom}}

On July 9, Berman testified before a closed session of the House Judiciary Committee.{{Cite news|last1=Fandos|first1=Nicholas|last2=Weiser|first2=Benjamin|date=2020-07-09|title=Top Manhattan Prosecutor Ousted by Trump Details Firing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/us/politics/top-manhattan-prosecutor-ousted-by-trump-details-firing.html|access-date=2020-08-23|issn=0362-4331}} After his testimony was released, Representative Adam Schiff said that "Berman’s act of defiance" was a story "of great heroism".{{Cite web|title=Barr Picks Replacement TRANSCRIPT: 7/10/20, The Rachel Maddow Show|url=https://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/rachel-maddow-show/2020-07-10-msna1375651|access-date=2021-02-11|website=MSNBC.com|date=July 11, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://judiciary.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3124|title=House Judiciary Committee Releases Transcript of Interview with Former SDNY Prosecutor Geoffrey Berman|date=July 13, 2020|website=U.S. House Judiciary Committee}}

On August 20, 2020, the SDNY announced the indictment of Steve Bannon, Trump’s former campaign CEO, on wire fraud and money laundering charges.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-20|title=Leaders Of 'We Build The Wall' Online Fundraising Campaign Charged With Defrauding Hundreds Of Thousands Of Donors|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands|access-date=2020-08-21|website=www.justice.gov|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-21|title=With Bannon arrest, 'Sovereign District' sends another salvo|url=https://apnews.com/article/6027291d2cde7a3ce2c65e1149e779ed |access-date=2020-08-23|website=Associated Press |first=Jim |last=Mustian |language=en-US}} The charges were based on his taking for his personal use funds that were supposed to be dedicated to the building of a wall on the southern border. Several articles questioned whether the charges would have been brought if Berman had not blocked Barr's attempt to appoint an ally to replace him. On January 20, 2021, Trump granted Bannon a pardon from the federal charges.{{Cite web|last=Swanson|first=Ian|date=2020-08-20|title=Five takeaways on Bannon's indictment|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/512971-five-takeaways-on-bannons-indictment|access-date=2020-08-21|website=TheHill|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-20|title=Critics speculate Bannon prosecution shows why Trump and Barr sought SDNY US attorney's ouster|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/bannon-trump-barr-berman-arrest |first=Mike |last=Brest |access-date=2020-08-21|website=Washington Examiner|language=en}}{{Cite news|first=Aaron |last=Blake |title=Analysis {{!}} Bannon's indictment raises more uneasy questions about William Barr's SDNY gambit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/20/bannons-indictment-raises-more-uneasy-questions-about-william-barrs-gambit/ |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=2020-08-21|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en}} Berman refused to resign until his deputy was named to succeed him, which he said would ensure that the important cases of his office would continue without delay or interruption.{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2020 |first1=Erica |last1=Orden |first2=Kara |last2=Scannell |first3=Evan |last3=Perez|title=Powerful US attorney who investigated Trump associates refuses to step down after Barr tries to push him out|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/southern-district-of-new-york-geoffrey-berman-jay-clayton/index.html|access-date=2020-08-21|website=CNN}}{{Cite web|title=Manhattan prosecutor relents after tense showdown with Barr|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/20/trump-fires-manhattan-prosecutor-who-refused-to-quit-330600|access-date=2020-08-21|website=POLITICO|date=June 20, 2020 |language=en}}

On July 15, 2020, Stanford Law School announced Berman's appointment as the Edwin A. Heafey Jr. Visiting professor of Law for the fall 2020 term.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Former United States Attorney, Geoffrey Berman, to Teach Federal Criminal Law at Stanford Law School|url=https://law.stanford.edu/press/former-united-states-attorney-geoffrey-berman-to-teach-federal-criminal-law-at-stanford-law-school/ |first= Stephanie |last=Ashe|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Stanford Law School|language=en}}{{Cite news|first=Ellen|last= Nakashima |title=Geoffrey Berman, ousted U.S. attorney in Manhattan, will teach at Stanford Law this fall|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/geoffrey-berman-ousted-us-attorney-in-manhattan-will-teach-at-stanford-law-this-fall/2020/07/15/e3bcb036-c6c0-11ea-8ffe-372be8d82298_story.html |date=July 15, 2020 |access-date=2020-08-23|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en}}

On November 19, 2021, at Damian Williams's investiture ceremony as the new U.S. Attorney for the SDNY, Williams praised Berman’s service. As reported by the Associated Press, Williams "sparked sustained applause when he mentioned Geoffrey S. Berman, a Republican who served as U.S. attorney during much of Donald Trump’s presidential term. Berman became known in what prosecutors like to affectionately call the 'Sovereign District of New York' for standing up to Washington’s demands and left office in June 2020 after a standoff with then-Attorney General William Barr over investigations into Trump’s allies. Williams said Berman promoted him and 'when the hour demanded true courage and independence and a demonstration of what it means to be a Southern District of New York prosecutor, he showed all of America what that means.'"{{Cite web|date=2021-11-20|title=New US attorney: Civil rights unit made for 'troubled times'|url=https://apnews.com/article/new-york-manhattan-race-and-ethnicity-merrick-garland-08d2ca362d87886946722268cccb3053|access-date=2021-11-20|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}

In December 2020, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson announced that Berman was joining the firm to head its white-collar defense, regulatory enforcement and investigations practice.{{Cite news|last=O’Brien|first=Rebecca Davis|date=2020-12-01|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Fired by Trump Hired at Law Firm Fried Frank|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/manhattan-u-s-attorney-fired-by-trump-hired-at-law-firm-fried-frank-11606831200|access-date=2020-12-01|issn=0099-9660}}{{cite news |last1=Weiser |first1=Benjamin |title=Federal prosecutor fired by Trump will lead firm's white-collar practice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/business/geoffrey-berman-fried-frank.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 1, 2020}}

In September 2022, Berman published a memoir, Holding the Line: Inside the Nation’s Preeminent US Attorney’s Office and its Battle with the Trump Justice Department. In it he describes numerous instances in which he says the Justice Department took politically motivated actions, such as suppressing investigations into Trump's allies or demanding investigations into people considered Trump's enemies.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/13/senate-geoffrey-berman-trump-interference-prosecutions|title=Berman book prompts Senate panel to investigate Trump DoJ interference|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|date=September 13, 2022|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 September 2022}} As one example, he says that in September 2018 a senior Justice Department official told Berman's deputy that because the Southern District had pursued prosecution of two Trump loyalists, the office should issue charges against a prominent Democratic lawyer "to even things out", and should do so before Election Day.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/nyregion/geoffrey-berman-trump-book.html|title=Trump Pushed Officials to Prosecute His Critics, Ex-U.S. Attorney Says|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|date=September 8, 2022|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 September 2022}} The Senate Judiciary Committee announced plans to investigate Berman's allegations that the Justice Department during the Trump administration made politically influenced decisions to initiate criminal investigations against some people and block them against others.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/nyregion/geoffrey-berman-trump-justice-department.html|title=Senate to Investigate Charge That Trump Meddled in Prosecutor's Office|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|date=September 12, 2022|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 September 2022}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|

• U.S. v Rafatnejad et al.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-iranians-charged-conducting-massive-cyber-theft-campaign-behalf-islamic-revolutionary|title=Nine Iranians Charged With Conducting Massive Cyber Theft Campaign on Behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|website=www.justice.gov|date=March 23, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2018 |url=https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/iranian-hackers-department-of-justice-steal-university-research.html|title=Justice Department Indicts Iranian Hackers for Allegedly Stealing Research From Hundreds of Universities|last=Mak|first=Aaron|work=Slate Magazine|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en}}
• U.S. v New York City Housing Authority{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-settlement-nycha-and-nyc-fundamentally-reform-nycha|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Settlement With NYCHA and NYC To Fundamentally Reform NYCHA Through the Appointment Of a Federal Monitor and the Payment By NYC Of $1.2 Billion Of Additional Capital Money Over the Next Five Years|website=www.justice.gov|date=June 11, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 11, 2018 |first1=Benjamin |last1=Weiser |first2=J. David |last2=Goodman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/nyregion/new-york-city-housing-authority-lead-paint.html|title=New York City Housing Authority, Accused of Endangering Residents, Agrees to Oversight|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en}}
• U.S. v Christian Toro and Tyler Toro{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/bronx-men-charged-manhattan-federal-court-explosives-charges|title=Bronx Men Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Explosives Charges|website=www.justice.gov|date=February 15, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}
• U.S. v Freedman et al.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/five-manhattan-doctors-indicted-accepting-bribes-and-kickbacks-pharmaceutical-company|title=Five Manhattan Doctors Indicted For Accepting Bribes And Kickbacks From A Pharmaceutical Company In Exchange For Prescribing Powerful Fentanyl Narcotic|website=www.justice.gov|date=March 16, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}
• U.S. v Therese Okoumou{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/woman-who-unlawfully-climbed-statue-liberty-arrested-trespassing-interference|title=Woman Who Unlawfully Climbed The Statue Of Liberty Arrested For Trespassing, Interference With Government Agency Functions, And Disorderly Conduct|website=www.justice.gov|date=July 5, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}
• U.S. v MTA et al.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-suit-against-mta-and-new-york-city-transit-authority-failure-make|title=U.S. Attorney Announces Suit Against The MTA And New York City Transit Authority For Failure To Make A Bronx Subway Station Accessible After A Full Renovation|website=www.justice.gov|date=March 13, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/infrastructure/us-attorney-berman-sues-mta-disability-violation.html|title=U.S. Attorney Berman sues MTA for disability violation|last=Adler|first=Ben|date=2018-03-13|work=CSNY|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en}}
• U.S. v City of Mount Vernon{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-lawsuit-against-city-mount-vernon-clean-water-act-violations|title=U.S. Attorney Announces Lawsuit Against The City Of Mount Vernon For Clean Water Act Violations|website=www.justice.gov|date=June 28, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-10}}{{Cite news |first=Christopher J. |last=Eberhart |date=December 11, 2019 |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/mount-vernon/2018/06/28/mount-vernon-sued-violating-clean-water-act/742791002/|title=Feds sue Mount Vernon for sewage in rivers|work=Rockland/Westchester Journal News |access-date=2018-07-10|language=en}}
• U.S. v Collins et al.
• U.S. v Hernandez et al.
• U.S. v Cesar Altieri Sayoc
• U.S. v Natalya Vladmirovna Veselnitskaya
• U.S. v Michael Avenatti{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-arrest-michael-avenatti-engaging-scheme-extort-public-company|title=U.S. Attorney Announces The Arrest Of Michael Avenatti For Engaging In A Scheme To Extort A Public Company|date=2019-03-25|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-03-28}}
• U.S. v Rochester Drug Co-operative{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-and-dea-announce-charges-against-rochester-drug-co-operative-and|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney And DEA Announce Charges Against Rochester Drug Co-Operative And Two Executives For Unlawfully Distributing Controlled Substances|date=2019-04-23|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-04-24}}
• U.S. v Doud{{Cite news|last1=Feuer|first1=Alan|last2=Benner|first2=Katie|last3=Protess|first3=Ben|last4=Rashbaum|first4=William K.|last5=Hong|first5=Nicole|date=2020-06-20|title=Trump Personally Fires U.S. Attorney Who Investigated His Associates|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/nyregion/trump-geoffrey-berman-fired-sdny.html|access-date=2020-06-20}}
• U.S. v Michael Avenatti{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-indictment-michael-avenatti-aggravated-identity-theft-engaging|title=U.S. Attorney Announces Indictment Of Michael Avenatti For Aggravated Identity Theft, Engaging In A Scheme To Defraud A Former Client|date=2019-05-22|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}
• U.S. v Jeffrey Epstein{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/billionaire-jeffrey-epstein-due-in-federal-court-after-sex-trafficking-arrest|title=Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty after sex trafficking arrest, prosecutors claim he preyed on young girls|last=Fedschun|first=Travis|date=2019-07-08|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1180481/download |access-date=December 15, 2020 |title=United States of America v. Jeffrey Epstein |website=justice.gov}}
• U.S. v Juan Antonio Hernández{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-honduran-congressman-tony-hern-ndez-convicted-manhattan-federal-court-conspiring|title=Former Honduran Congressman Tony Hernández Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States And Related Firearms And False-Statements Offenses|date=2019-10-18|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}}
• U.S. v Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman
• U.S. v Halkbank{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/turkish-bank-charged-manhattan-federal-court-its-participation-multibillion-dollar-iranian|title=Turkish Bank Charged in Manhattan Federal Court for Its Participation in a Multibillion-Dollar Iranian Sanctions Evasion Scheme|date=2019-10-15|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}}
• U.S. v Tova Noel and Michael Thomas
• U.S. v Lawrence Ray{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/lawrence-ray-charged-multiple-offenses-including-extortion-sex-trafficking-forced-labor|title=Lawrence Ray Charged With Multiple Offenses, Including Extortion, Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor, And Money Laundering|date=2020-02-11|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}}
• U.S. v Jorge Navarro, Jason Servis et al.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-charges-27-defendants-racehorse-doping-rings|title=Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 27 Defendants In Racehorse Doping Rings|date=2020-03-09|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}
• U.S. v Nicolás Maduro et al.{{Cite news |first1=Tracy |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Del Quentin |last2=Wilber |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-26/justice-department-indict-venezuela-president-nicolas-maduro-on-federal-drug-trafficking-charges|title=U.S. indicts Venezuelan President Maduro on drug trafficking charges|date=2020-03-26|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-26}}
• U.S. v Juan Carlos Bonillo{{Cite press release|title=Former Chief Of Honduran National Police Charged With Drug Trafficking And Weapons Offenses|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-chief-honduran-national-police-charged-drug-trafficking-and-weapons-offenses|date=2020-04-30|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}
• U.S. v Bank Hapoalim{{Cite press release|title=Israel's Largest Bank, Bank Hapoalim, Admits To Conspiring With U.S. Taxpayers To Hide Assets And Income In Offshore Accounts|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/israel-s-largest-bank-bank-hapoalim-admits-conspiring-us-taxpayers-hide-assets-and|date=2020-04-30|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}
• U.S. v Muge Ma{{Cite press release|title=Chinese National Arrested For $20 Million Scheme To Fraudulently Obtain Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/chinese-national-arrested-20-million-scheme-fraudulently-obtain-loans-intended-help|date=2020-05-21|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-25}}
• U.S. v William Sadleir{{Cite press release|title=Former Chairman And CEO Of Movie Production Company Arrested On Fraud Charges|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-chairman-and-ceo-movie-production-company-arrested-fraud-charges|date=2020-05-22|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-25}}
• U.S v Inigo Philbrick{{Cite press release|date=2020-06-12|title=Former London And Miami Art Dealer Arrested For Fraud Scheme|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-london-and-miami-art-dealer-arrested-fraud-scheme|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.justice.gov|language=en}}

}}

• {{cite book |title=Holding the Line: Inside the Nation's Preeminent US Attorney's Office and Its Battle with the Trump Justice Department |date=13 September 2022 |publisher=Penguin |oclc=1338025853 |isbn=978-0-593-30030-5 |language=en}}

• List of Jewish American jurists

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• {{C-SPAN|114271}}

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{{s-legal}}

{{s-bef|before=Joon Kim
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{{s-ttl|title=United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York|years=2018–2020}}

{{s-aft|after=Audrey Strauss
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Berman, Geoffrey}}

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:Assistant United States attorneys

Category:Living people

Category:Lawyers from Princeton, New Jersey

Category:People from Trenton, New Jersey

Category:Stanford Law School alumni

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:United States attorneys for the Southern District of New York

Category:University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:1959 births

Category:Wharton School alumni