Brian Benczkowski

Brian Benczkowski
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
Assumed office
July 16, 2018
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Leslie R. Caldwell
Personal details
Born Brian Allen Benczkowski
(1969-10-01) October 1, 1969
Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Political party Republican
Education University of Virginia (BA)
Washington University (JD)

Brian Allen Benczkowski[1] (born October 1, 1969) is an American lawyer who currently serves as the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Prior to assuming his current role, he was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.[2]

Education

Benczkowski received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1991. He attended the Washington University School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law. He received his Juris Doctor in 1994.[3]

Early in his career, Benczkowski served on the staff of former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici and U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner.[4] His previous roles include serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, where he managed the Department of Justice's relationship with Congress.[4] Later, he became Chief of Staff for the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. In those positions, he was awarded the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in 2003, and the John Marshall Award for Excellence in Preparing and Handling Legislation in 2008. He was also the Republican Staff Director for the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where he advised Republican members of the committee on legislative, oversight, and nomination issues.[5]

In 2010, Benczkowski joined the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis, where his practice focused on litigation and white collar criminal defense, including government and internal investigations.[5] Benczkowski's clients there included Alfa-Bank, the largest private commercial bank in Russia.[6]

Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division

Benczkowski was a member of President Donald Trump's transition team, helping to manage the Justice Department transition.[7]

In June 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Benczkowski to become Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Criminal Division.[2][8] According to the Washington Post, "Benczkowski is a well-regarded lawyer, especially in conservative circles."[7] Politico called him the "GOP's go-to guy for hearings."[4] At the time of his confirmation in July 2018, Benczkowski had no prosecutorial experience.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Press Release (June 5, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ Godoy, Joy (May 4, 2017). "Kirkland Partner Likely To Be Tapped For DOJ Criminal Chief". Law360. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Libit, Daniel (June 15, 2009). "The GOP's go-to guy for hearings". Politico. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Schneier, Cogan (May 5, 2017). "Kirkland White-Collar Partner Floated for DOJ Criminal Division". National Law Journal. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  6. ↑ Charlie Savage; Adam Goldman (July 25, 2017). "Justice Dept. Nominee Says He Once Represented Russian Bank". The New York Times. p. A11. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Zapotosky, Matt (November 16, 2016). "Brian Benczkowski, once dubbed 'GOP's go-to guy for hearings,' helping manage Justice Department transition". Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  8. ↑ Pres. Nom. 569, 115th Cong. (2017).
  9. ↑ Carrie Johnson (July 11, 2018). "Senate Confirms New Boss For Justice Department Criminal Division". NPR.org. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Leslie R. Caldwell		 United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
2018–present		 Incumbent
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