U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Jessie Liu to be the number three official at the Department of Justice, making her the first Asian American to potentially fill the position.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Liu, 46, would be the second woman and first Asian American to become the associate attorney general at the Department of Justice.
Liu has been serving since Septtember 2017 as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, the nation's largest United States Attorney's Office, where she leads more than 300 prosecutors.
The newly minted Attorney General William Barr told media that he had recommended Liu for the position.
"With her record of public service, particularly in civil justice and federal law enforcement matters, it is clear that she will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team at the department," Barr said.
The office of the associate attorney general traditionally oversees civil, antitrust, environmental and tax issues. The position is currently held by Jesse Panuccio, who filled the vacancy left by former Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand when she resigned in February 2018.
