President Donald Trump selected Stanley Woodward, a lawyer who has represented several Trump allies, to serve as associate attorney general — the third highest position in the Justice Department.
Woodward currently serves as a White House lawyer. He has never represented Trump, but he has served as a counsel for people in Trump’s orbit. Most notably, Woodward represented Trump’s personal aide Walt Nauta, who was indicted for the role he played in Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
There was concern of a conflict of interest as Woodward represented both Nauta and also witnesses in the case, such as Kash Patel, now director of the FBI.
In January, the Justice Department dropped its charges against Nauta after arguing special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges, was appointed illegally.
Woodward also represented several Trump allies and everyday citizens charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. He represented Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), who had his phone confiscated by investigators working with Smith, Peter Navarro, who was convicted for contempt of Congress for his refusal to comply with Jan. 6 investigations.
The new DOJ associate attorney general also represented Ryan Samsel, believed to be among the first instigators of the storming of the Capitol, Kelly Meggs, convicted for his involvement in an alleged plot by Oath Keeper leaders to assist Trump in serving a second term in 2021, and Federico Klein, who was convicted of assaulting law enforcement. All of these people were pardoned by Trump or had their case dismissed by the Justice Department.
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Woodward’s appointment comes as Trump has already chosen key allies in his criminal investigations to serve in the Justice Department, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Emil Bove, principal associate deputy attorney general.
Woodward’s nomination will have to be voted on by the Senate.