"One hallmark of justice is absolute independence," Bharara said in a written statement, "and that was my touchstone every day that I served."
It was not immediately clear why Bharara had been pushed out, since President Trump had indicated to Bharara that he would be staying in that job in a Trump Administration.
Back in late November, Bharara had gone to Trump Tower to meet with the President-Elect, and emerged to tell reporters that he would likely remain in his high profile federal post.
"We had a good meeting; I said I would absolutely consider staying on," Bharara told the press on November 30.
But something changed in the interim.
Bharara was appointed to his job in 2009 by President Barack Obama; almost four dozen other U.S. Attorneys picked by Mr. Obama had been asked on short notice yesterday to turn in letters of resignation.
That is a standard procedure for a new administration, though a few federal prosecutors are sometimes kept on by a new President.
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