LOUISVILLE, Ky. — United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky Russell Coleman announced his resignation, effective Jan. 20, Monday morning.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman announces resignation

  • Resignation effective Jan. 20

  • Coleman said he leaves the office "with gratitude and awe"

In his resignation letter, Coleman said he leaves the office "with gratitiude and awe."

"Awe at the gravity of the mission of protecting the families of our West Kentucky district, and of the caliber of the committed public servants of YOUR United States Attorney’s Office," his letter says. "Cynicism abounds regarding government institutions, but we are so fortunate to have good and talented people staffing both this office and serving in federal law enforcement in our Commonwealth."

Coleman expressed his gratitude for Sen. Mitch McConnell, who recommended him for the position, Sen. Rand Paul, and the White House. He also thanked assistant U.S. attorneys, agents, officers, deputies, and others.

Coleman said he regrets that he was unable to solve the murders of Officer Jason Ellis and Crystal Rogers in Bardstown during his tenure, and he urges the next administration to prioritize those investigations.

"I am also plagued by the loss of life we grieved this year: violent crime took the lives of 173 Louisvillians in 2020 alone, with 572 wounded non-fatally," Coleman wrote in his letter. "That’s hundreds of devastated families struggling with this trauma in the midst of a global pandemic."

In his letter, Coleman also wrote about the need to "build relationships between law enforcement and communities that feel under-protected and over-enforced."

"While our new strategy of Group Violence Intervention (GVI) will not cure all that ails us in Louisville, it will help establish trust, which is the first step toward healing," he wrote. "This approach has worked for decades in cities large and small, and if we deploy GVI the right way, we can put a stop to the senseless deaths of young Black men and women."

Coleman condemned the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

"I hope each and every perpetrator is brought to justice, and our country can heal from this tragic chapter. Law enforcement is not a partisan calling, and to be clear, I stand at the ready to be helpful to my successor in any way," he wrote.

Coleman has served in the position since 2017 after being nominated by President Donald Trump and receiving unanimous Senate confirmation.

Haeli Spears is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 Kentucky. She is a University of Louisville graduate who started her career with Spectrum News in May, 2020.