U.S. Attorney Pak Leaves Office Early After Trump Criticism

ATLANTA, GA — The Republican who has served as the top federal prosecutor in the Atlanta region for the past three years left his position early on Monday with little explanation other than "unforeseen circumstances."

But the departure of U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak came two days after a phone call recording was leaked in which President Donald Trump called a federal attorney in Atlanta a "never Trumper." Pak wasn't mentioned by name, but the comment was part of an hour-long call Trump on Saturday had with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who was asked to "find" enough votes in the state to overturn his November election defeat against Joe Biden.

During the call Trump complained about unproven cases of voter fraud and voting machine tampering in Atlanta and Fulton County, according to a recording of the conversation obtained by the Washington Post. On the recording, Trump mentions a “never-Trumper U.S. attorney there.”

See also: Trump Urges GA Secretary To 'Find' Votes In His Favor: Report

Justice Department officials would not say whether Pak resigned voluntarily or was asked to do so, Politico reported.

According to a news release, Pak served for more than three years as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Georgia based in Atlanta, which covers 46 counties in northwestern Georgia.

He was nominated as U.S. Attorney by President Donald Trump in July 2017 and sworn in as the District’s 25th U.S. Attorney on Oct. 10, 2017.

Instead of following past practice, Trump bypassed First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine the prosecutor who would normally fill in during a vacancy, Politico reported. Acting as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District will be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Bobby Christine. A former state prosecutor and magistrate, Christine is also a long-time Army Reservist with the rank of brigadier general.

“It has been the greatest honor of my professional career to have been able to serve my fellow citizens as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia," Pak said in a press release. "I have done my best to be thoughtful and consistent, and to provide justice for my fellow citizens in a fair, effective and efficient manner. I am grateful to President Trump and the United States Senate for the opportunity to serve, and to former Attorneys General Sessions and Barr for their leadership of the Department.”

Pak lives in Gwinnett County, and worked in private practice until he became an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia in 2002. He felt called to public service in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, and he served for six years, prosecuting cases of drug trafficking, money laundering, intellectual property, and white-collar crimes.

He also served as a state representative in the Georgia House from 2011 to 2017.