United States Attorney for Maine Halsey Frank announced Thursday that he will stepping down from his post at the end of the month after being asked to resign by the Biden administration.
U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank Submitted photo
Frank said in a statement that he has submitted his resignation letter, effective Feb. 28, to President Biden.
The nation’s current acting attorney general, Monty Wilkinson, had put Frank and other U.S. attorneys on notice by asking them to resign so that Biden could appoint a new roster of federal prosecutors. Whenever there is a change in administrations at the White House, U.S. attorneys are routinely replaced by the new president.
Frank’s predecessor was Democrat Thomas E. Delahanty II. He was replaced in 2017 when former President Donald Trump nominated Frank to the post. Trump’s Justice Department in 2017 asked all 46 remaining Obama administration U.S. attorneys to resign.
“Serving the people of Maine as U.S. Attorney has been the honor and privilege of my professional life,” Frank said in the statement Thursday. “I hope that my leadership has been positive for Maine and for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Frank was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 4, 2017 after having been nominated to the post by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. At the time, Frank served as chairman of the Portland Republican City Committee. He was sworn into office on Oct. 10, 2017.
Prior to becoming U.S. attorney, Frank served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maine from 1999 to 2017.
It is not known yet who will be chosen to replace Frank. Members of Maine’s congressional delegation have created a panel of private and public-sector citizens to come up with a list of recommendations for the post.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark will serve as acting U.S. attorney until a replacement for Frank is confirmed by the Senate.
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