Bharara agrees to stay as U.S. attorney

ALBANY -- U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Wednesday he plans to stay in his position in the Trump administration.

Bharara emerged from Trump Tower after meeting with the president-elect for about an hour, saying he has agreed to remain in the job.

"We had a good meeting. I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on," Bharara said, saying Trump asked him to stay.

"I have already spoken to Sen. (Jeff) Sessions, who is, as you know, has been nominated to be the attorney general. He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I’ll be continuing the work at the Southern District of New York."

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Whether Bharara, who has led a crusade against Albany corruption, would stay on in a Trump administration has been a key question in New York.

Bharara, 48, has critical cases ongoing in his fight of New York corruption.

Indictments were issued last week to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former top aide, Joseph Percoco; former SUNY Polytechnic Institute president Alain Kaloyeros and five upstate developers.

Bharara has also convicted nearly 30 public officials on corruption charges during his tenure, including convictions against both former state legislative leaders, Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver.

He has been critical of the climate in Albany, which he has said is rife with corruption. He is also investigating New York City government.

"I love my job. That's for other people to decide," Bharara said in an interview with "New York Now" in October.

Bharara said Wednesday Trump asked for the meeting "presumably because he's a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years," Bharara said, adding the office's work has been done "independently, without fear or favor."

Bharara oversees the Southern District of New York, which runs through Manhattan, the Bronx and north through the Hudson Valley into Dutchess County.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, said he talked to Trump about Bharara last week and praised his work as a prosecutor. Bharara is a former Schumer aide.

“I told him I thought Preet was great, and I would be all for keeping him on the job and fully support it," Schumer said in a statement.

"I am glad they met and am glad Preet is staying on. He’s been one of the best U.S Attorneys New York has ever seen.”

Bharara was first appointed in 2009 by President Obama.