HARRISBURG – United States Attorney David J. Freed, of Camp Hill, has announced his resignation effective midnight Jan. 1.
Upon Freed’s departure, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler will assume the position of U.S. Attorney pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act.
Brandler has been with the office for more than 30 years and previously served as U.S. Attorney from 2016 to 2017.
Freed, of Camp Hill, served for more than three years as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which consists of 33 counties in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania and has offices in Harrisburg, Scranton and Williamsport.
He was nominated as U.S. Attorney by Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, appointed by President Donald Trump in September 2017, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2017, and sworn in as U.S. Attorney on Nov. 27, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Freed served for 12 years as the district attorney of Cumberland County.
“I have been enormously privileged to be able to serve my fellow citizens, first as a young prosecutor in York County, then later in several positions in Cumberland County including 12 years as District Attorney, and finally as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. I have done my best to be thoughtful and consistent, and to provide justice to my fellow citizens in a fair, effective and efficient manner,” Freed said. “I am grateful to President Trump and Senators Toomey and Casey for the opportunity to serve and to former Attorneys General Sessions and Barr for their leadership of the Department. I have had the incredible opportunity to work with our brave men and women in law enforcement nearly every day for the past 20 years and continue to be amazed by their commitment to their fellow citizens. I have witnessed first-hand the fortitude and grace of victims of crime, and have taken to heart the awesome responsibility of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
“For the past three years, I have had the great fortune to work with the highly skilled attorneys and staff in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. It is an office blessed with experienced and dedicated leaders, and colleagues who truly understand the importance of working together for the benefit of their fellow citizens. It was not difficult to recognize, frankly before I even started, that the office was efficient and productive, and was in need of very little change. More than anything over the past three years, I have endeavored above all to tell the story of the great accomplishments of the office. While the public words are mine, the accomplishments belong to them.”
