Lyndon: 4 new assistant U.S. Attorney positions

As part of a larger effort to increase resources for prosecutors in the country, the Department of Justice is creating four new assistant U.S. district attorney positions in the District of South Carolina.

“With four new assistant U.S. attorneys joining our ranks in South Carolina, our ability to continue our efforts alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners as well as our state prosecutors will be significantly enhanced,” U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Lydon said.

Three of the new assistant prosecutors will focus on violent crime while a fourth will take on civil enforcement.

The Department of Justice said in a press release that the effort is part of a national push intended to help combat violent crime, enforce immigration laws and to diminish the effects of the opioid crisis.

“Today we are sending in reinforcements,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in the release. “This addition of new assistant U.S. attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”

Across the country, the DOJ is allocating funds for 311 new federal assistant prosecutor positions, including 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors and 35 new immigration prosecutors.