Connecticut prosecutor, Nora Dannehy, a top aide to John Durham’s Trump-Russia investigation, resigns. All this amid concern about pressure from Attorney General William Barr. The highly regarded prosecutor informed colleagues of her resignation. She worked at the US Attorney’s office in New Haven. She sent a short farewell message through email.
Durham has never even acknowledged that Dannehy was in Washington working for him, had no immediate comment on the resignation. Dannehy recruited him after he appointed by Attorney General William Barr. He joined the team almost a year and a half ago.
Dannehy, a career prosecutor who worked closely with Durham before leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office about a decade ago for a corporate position in the defence industry.
Durham induced her to return to the justice department, within weeks so he joins his team in Washington in the spring of 2019.
Colleagues say that Dannehy was potentially Anti-Trump and she raised concerns recently. Her resigned reportedly considered for weeks now.
Pro-Trumps pointed to the Clinesmith arrest and conviction as evidence for the President’s contention that political opponents, including top figures in the FBI and intelligence services, have been trying to hamstring his presidency or force him from office with contrived claims that he or members of his campaign colluded with Russia to win the election.
As an assistant U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, Dannehy, known for building complex corruption cases against high-profile politicians. Among others, she convicted former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland and former state Treasurer Paul Silvester.
The Durham investigation produced its first public result in August with the arrest of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who is accused of doctoring emails from the CIA about a former Trump campaign adviser who was a target of secret FBI surveillance, according to documents filed in Washington’s federal court.
Barr dropped hints in public that Durham’s investigation so that it will produce something more significant, that is, before the election — than the arrest of Clinesmith, who was charged with making a false statement.
Critics of the administration cited it of trying to manipulate the Durham investigation to shore up the President’s poll numbers.