B. Todd Jones

Todd Jones
Seventh Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
In office
August 31, 2011 – March 31, 2015
(Acting: August 31, 2011 – July 31, 2013)
Nominated by Barack Obama
Appointed by Eric Holder (to be acting Director)
Preceded by Kenneth Melson (Acting)
Succeeded by Thomas Brandon (Acting)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota
In office
August 7, 2009 – August 24, 2013
President Barack Obama
Preceded by Rachel Paulose
Succeeded by Andy Luger
In office
May 1998 – January 2001
President Bill Clinton
Preceded by David Lillehaug
Succeeded by Thomas Heffelfinger
Personal details
Born (1957-05-23) May 23, 1957
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality American
Spouse(s) Margaret Samanant
Children 5
Alma mater Macalester College
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Unit 1st Marine Division

Byron Todd Jones (born May 23, 1957) is an American lawyer who was the seventh Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is chief disciplinary officer of the National Football League (NFL).[1][2] He twice served as United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota.[3]

Early life and education

Jones' official photo as an assistant US Attorney

Jones attended Wyoming High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.[4] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1983.

Career

After his schooling, Jones joined the U.S. Marine Corps and went on to serve as an infantry officer with the 1st Marine Division. Jones later became a judge advocate as both a trial defense counsel and prosecutor. He left active duty in 1989. From 1992 to 1994 and 1997 to 1998, Jones served as an assistant U.S. Attorney.[5]

In 2013, Donald E. Oswald, a former director of the Minneapolis FBI office, denounced Jones in an eight-page letter to members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for mishandling a domestic terrorism case involving three suspected members of the "Aryan Liberation Movement," a breakaway group from the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement.[6] The FBI infiltrated the Aryan Liberation Movement in an undercover investigation dubbed "Operation Wrong Reich." The suspects subsequently revealed the group's illegal weapons cache and shared plans to conduct attacks on the Mexican Consulate in Saint Paul and assassinate left-wing activists. Jones declined to pursue charges against one of the suspects, citing "resource issues", and the other two suspects were never brought up on terrorism charges, leading one Aryan Liberation Movement leader to contest the constitutionality of a part of the Armed Career Criminal Act under which he was convicted and later receive a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court.

ATF

Jones became acting director of the ATF on August 31, 2011, following the resignation of Kenneth E. Melson in the aftermath of the ATF gunwalking scandal.[7]

On January 16, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Jones to serve as permanent director of the ATF. Due to opposition from gun rights lobbies, the ATF had not had a permanent director since the position was made subject to U.S. Senate approval in 2006.[8]

On July 31, the Senate confirmed him as head of the ATF.[9] On March 20, 2015, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced Jones will depart to pursue opportunities in the private sector, with his resignation to become effective on March 31, 2015.

NFL

On March 23, 2015, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced to team owners that he was appointing Jones as the league's new chief disciplinary officer.[10] Goodell announced his creation of the position in December 2014 after a series of player suspensions. The officer will oversee investigation of player misconduct and any discipline that results from those investigations.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Ken Belson, "N.F.L. to Hire B. Todd Jones, A.T.F. Director, as Disciplinary Officer", The New York Times, March 23, 2015; accessed March 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Former ATF director B. Todd Jones calls NFL post 'a dream come true'", The Star Tribune, January 26, 2016; accessed May 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "B. Todd Jones Confirmed as ATF Director". ATF. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ Shesgreen, Deride (2013-05-27). "Wyoming grad, candidate for ATF caught in confirmation fight". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ Walsh, James. "About B. Todd Jones". StarTribune. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  6. ↑ https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/case-neo-nazi-sam-johnsons-wife-mentioned-example-b-todd-jones-poor-performan/
  7. ↑ Serrano, Richard A. (August 30, 2011). "Kenneth Melson, who oversaw ATF's Fast and Furious, steps down". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  8. ↑ Browning, Dan (January 16, 2013). "U.S. Attorney for Minnesota B. Todd Jones nominated as ATF director". StarTribune. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ "B. Todd Jones wins Senate approval as next ATF chief". UPI. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Ken Belson, "N.F.L. to Hire B. Todd Jones, A.T.F. Director, as Disciplinary Officer", The New York Times, March 23, 2015; accessed March 24, 2015.
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