Third-ranking DOJ official to step down

One of Attorney General Eric Holder’s top lieutenants is stepping down from his post, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. 

Associate Attorney General Tony West, who has served alongside Holder throughout the Obama presidency, will leave the agency on Sept. 15, according to the agency. 

{mosads}“Tony West has been an indispensable member of the Department’s senior leadership team, an exemplary and dedicated public servant, and a close advisor and good friend,” Holder said in a written statement. 

During his tenure at the DOJ, West played a prominent role in several notable initiatives, including the agency’s decision to cease defending the ban on federal benefits for gay couples. 

He also helped secure a series of multibillion-dollar settlements from JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America over mortgage-related fraud accusations linked to the 2008 economic crisis. 

“Over the years, Tony’s efforts have made a tremendous and lasting difference in the lives of millions of people across the country,” Holder said.

West’s destination was not immediately known, though he is reportedly heading for a position in the private sector. 

It was unclear who would replace West as the agency’s third-ranking official.