CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. attorney for West Virginia’s southern district is stepping down.
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced Friday he will resign effective Feb 28. The move will allow President Joe Biden to appoint a successor.
Nominated by former President Donald Trump, Stuart began his term as U.S. attorney in January 2018.
Stuart served as chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party from 2010 to 2012. He led Trump’s state campaign for president in 2016.
Stuart said during his time as U.S. attorney he “remained laser-focused” on the opioid epidemic. He touted his office’s participation in the dismantling of multi-state drug distribution networks.
The southern district serves 23 of West Virginia’s 55 counties.
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The West Virginia Daily News is including a few more excerpts from Stuart’s resignation letter:
“My achievements as a United States Attorney are too many to set forth in this letter of resignation but, I assure you, I am incredibly proud of the remarkable efforts of my team and my law enforcement partners. The successes are a result of the team, a remarkable team, that is as capable as any team in the nation. During my tenure,
• Confidence was restored in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, a critically important court to commerce and the people of West Virginia.
• A region was made safer and a city was inspired to greater collective action as a result of the largest law enforcement operation in the history of the State of West Virginia, Operation Saigon Sunset.
• A most vulnerable population and the victims of elder fraud and elder scams were defended as never before including through the largest elder fraud tak:edown in West Virginia history with victims that spanned the globe.
• A landmark settlement was reached pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act between the Department of Justice and the State of West Virginia to expand and improve in-home and community-based mental health services throughout the State to better meet the needs of children.
• The operations of the United States Attorney’s Office were rebuilt with the greatest expansion of personnel and attorneys in the history of the District while achieving collections far surpassing our appropriated budget for operations.
• The “Back the Blue” license plate was established, a license plate in which plate #0001 shall forever adorn my personal vehicle.
• The relationships and partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement and policy leaders was strengthened to historic levels.
As I prepare to exit the building and my public service as a member of the Department of Justice, it would not be appropriate without thanking some remarkable public servants: The attorneys and staff that serve the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia are truly some of the finest in the nation. During my term, I was blessed to be able to recruit some of the very finest team members from across the nations, from California
to Massachusetts and everywhere in between. My goal was to assemble the best. In that respect, I exceeded my goal. The people of West Virginia should be very proud of the remarkable individuals that comprise the hallways of my operations from Huntington to Bluefield. I am proud of each of them. None of the success I can claim could have been possible without my remarkable team.
The men and women of law enforcement are truly heroes that walk amongst us. I will forever be inspired by their daily work in defense of all of us.
… President Biden, I wish you the greatest success in your leadership of this great nation. We are truly the greatest nation in the history of man. If I may ever be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to call on me.”
You can read Stuart’s full resignation letter here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/press-release/file/1367116/download.
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