Connecticut U.S. Attorney Daly Announces Resignation

U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deidre Daly announced her resignation Friday effective immediately.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as Connecticut’s United States Attorney. In fact, it has been a gift of a lifetime," she said in a statement. I am extremely proud of the tremendous accomplishments of the men and women of this office during my tenure. I applaud their tireless work holding our most violent offenders accountable, protecting our children and our environment, standing up for our most vulnerable victims, and not hesitating to stand up to the powerful."

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gustafson will serve as acting U.S. attorney. He will oversee the office of about 63 assistant U.S. attorneys and 52 staff members.

Daly was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2014 for the post. She was an assistant U.S. attorney starting in 1985 and later served in a private law firm as a partner. She was the first woman to be nominated and confirmed at the U.S. attorney for Connecticut.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said the timing of Daly's departure is surprising and that no one has been suggested to replace her or the other 44 U.S. attorneys who have been fired, according to NBC Connecticut.

It is common for presidents to replace many U.S. attorneys, according to the LA Times. Ronald Reagan replaced 89 of 93 U.S. attorneys within two years and Bill Clinton replaced 80 within his first year. Some presidents change U.S. attorneys more gradually while others eliminate many at once.

Image via U.S. Attorney Office