Pannun case: Trump removes prosecutor who pressed charges against Indians

President elect Donald Trump has already begun etching out decisive moves. On Friday, November 15, Trump announced the replacement of the federal prosecutor who filed charges against a former Indian Intelligence officer, in an alleged plot to asassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.

Trump, who will be sworn-in as the President of the United States on January 20, 2025, has nominated US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) former chairman Jay Clayton to take charge of the District Attorney office for the Southern District of New York, reports said.

Clayton will replace the federal prosecutor, Damian Williams, who had filed charges against Vikash Yadav, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, accusing him of orchestrating a plot to hire a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

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In India, the development is being watched closely as the Government of India has all along denied any association or involvement in any such plot.

The other accused in the “murder-for-hire” case are Indian national Nikhil Gupta and a former Indian Intelligence officer, unnamed so far. Williams had charged Gupta, a businessman, as a co-conspirator. He was extradited to the US in June this year from the Czech Republic.

Hailing Clayton as “a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant”, Trump said, “He did an incredible job at the SEC”.

Clayton, who was the SEC chairman during Trump’s first tenure from 2017-21, brings special expertise to Wall Street and financial irregularities cases. The Southern District of New York covers Manhattan and handles high-profile cases.

Much like India, fresh appointments in the US are considered a norm after a new government takes over. The good understanding and friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President-elect, Donald Trump, could hold the key to take the strategic partnership between the two democracies to the next level as well as help resolve outstanding issues that may have caused fissures in the relationship.