US Attorney for the Wilmington area announces resignation
Michael Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, will resign effective February 3rd.
Easley cited a desire to keep politics out of the office and hopes his successor will be an experienced federal prosecutor.
Easley was appointed by President Biden in 2021 and confirmed unanimously by the Senate.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael Easley Jr. has announced his resignation and step down from the position on Monday, Feb. 3.
'It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home,' Easley said in his departure announcement released Wednesday.
Easley was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden in September 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate that same year.
Prior coverage:Amid shaky future, top US attorney outlines Wilmington's major crime issues
The U.S. Attorney recently spoke with the StarNews about his uncertain future, noting a new candidate would likely be nominated to fill his role following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
'The men and women of the Eastern District are among the hardest working in the nation – steadfast in the mission to keep America safe. Together, we helped drive down violent crime, turbocharged white-collar prosecutions, protected civil rights, and stemmed the tide of narcotics into our communities," Easley said in the announcement, highlighting his appreciation for prosecutors, judges and law enforcement.
As part of his departure announcement, Easley highlighted is achievements in reducing violent crime, dismantling drug trafficking operations, combating the fentanyl epidemic, expanding civil rights enforcement, protecting national security and addressing a rise in white-collar fraud.
Easley cited the significance of shoulder-to-shoulder partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement. During his tenure, Easley and his team led the launch of the Violent Crime Action Plan, initiated Overdose Death Investigation Trainings for law enforcement officers, established an Illicit Finance Task Force, and more.
"When you see overdose deaths on the decline, violent crime on the decline, homicides down, all of those things add up to me being ... completely at peace that a transition may be coming," Easley previously told the StarNews. "I'm just proud and I'm really excited for whoever gets to have this job after me."
Related coverage:Man pleads guilty to discharging pollutants into Cape Fear River
Looking to the future, the U.S. Attorney previously said he hoped an experienced federal prosecutor would succeed him, adding one clear piece of advice: keeping politics out.
"I come from a political family ... but not for one minute have I brought politics into this job," Easley said. "You want somebody who's going to focus on the mission and the people and making eastern North Carolina a safer place and not let politics get anywhere near this job."
Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Easley was a partner at a large international law firm focused on internal investigations and trial court work in state and federal courts, according to the announcement.
Hailing from Southport, Easley is the son of former Gov. and Brunswick County District Attorney Michael Easley Sr., and the state's former First Lady, Mary Easley, who also served as an assistant district attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties.
When previously asked about his next steps, Easley said he wasn't entirely sure but emphasized his love for serving the residents of his district.
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