prior to

The chief of staff position did not exist prior to Gascón’s tenure and it was not clear if Hochman would appoint anyone to fill the role.

Prior to the pardon, Democrats had been busy denouncing Trump’s nominees as threats to the intended firewall between politics and prosecutions.

Prior to the rebels’ offensive, the war had felt as if it were effectively over after Assad’s government regained control of cities with the help of Russia, Iran and Iranian-backed militias.

Even prior to Trump’s election, the European Union had already announced that it would hit back at the United States if Trump enacted tariffs on EU products.

Mr Salehi, 34, boldly criticised Iran’s leaders in his music and was already banned from performing at concerts prior to his arrest.