what has loretta lynch done while attorney general

by Prof. Arjun Rolfson 7 min read

When did Loretta Lynch become Attorney General?

Aug 24, 2017 · In 2002, she joined Hogan & Hartson LLP (now Hogan Lovells) as a partner in the firm’s New York office. While in private practice, Ms. Lynch performed extensive pro bono work for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, established to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations in the 1994 genocide in that nation.

What does Loretta Lynch do at the DOJ?

Apr 24, 2015 · As attorney general, Lynch made police reform a priority of the DOJ. It conducted investigations into the law-enforcement departments of various cities, notably Baltimore and Chicago, following a series of high-profile allegations of police brutality.

What did Loretta Lynch do under President Obama?

Feb 28, 2022 · Lynch—now a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison who served as President Obama’s second attorney general and the nation’s first Black woman to serve in the role—recently came under...

What did Loretta Lynch do for Duke University?

May 02, 2016 · Federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch won confirmation to serve as attorney general Thursday from a Senate that forced her to wait more than five months for the title and remained divided to the end.

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Apr 23, 2015 · Lynch has been the top prosecutor since 2010 for a district that includes Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island, a role she also …

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Who is Loretta Lynch?

Loretta Elizabeth Lynch (born May 21, 1959) is an American lawyer who served as the 83rd attorney general of the United States from 2015 to 2017. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to succeed Eric Holder and previously served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under both Presidents Bill Clinton (1999–2001) ...

What was the document that Lynch and Renteria were talking about?

In early March 2016, hackers working with Dutch intelligence had reportedly provided a highly classified Russian government document to the FBI . The document, which had "possible translation issues," had purportedly contained a memorialization of an alleged conversation between Lynch and Amanda Renteria. One of the allegations within the document reportedly said that Renteria had been assured that "Lynch would keep the Clinton investigation from going too far." FBI Director James Comey said it was "one of the bricks in the load" that led to his decision to not consult with the Department of Justice before closing the investigation, even though Lynch had denied ever speaking with Renteria, in addition to the FBI determining that the document was not credible.

Who was Eric Garner?

Following the July 2014 death of Eric Garner, an unarmed man who died after being held in a department-prohibited chokehold by a New York City police officer, Lynch agreed to meet with Garner's family to discuss possible federal prosecution of the officer believed to be responsible for Garner's death.

Who was the first African American woman to be appointed as Attorney General?

She was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 26, 2015, and approved by the Senate in a 56–43 vote on April 23, thereby becoming the first African-American woman; the second African-American after Holder; and the second woman, after Janet Reno; to hold this office.

What was Dylann Roof charged with?

In July 2015, after the Charleston church shooting, Lynch announced the suspected shooter Dylann Roof would be charged with a hate crime. On May 24, 2016, she further announced that the Justice Department would seek the death penalty for Roof.

Who was the Supreme Court Justice who died?

After the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Lynch's name was mentioned as being a potential nominee to replace him. On March 8, a Justice Department spokesperson said Lynch had asked the White House to withdraw her from consideration.

What is the office of the Attorney General?

Attorney general, the chief law officer of a state or nation and the legal adviser to the chief executive. The office is common in almost every country in which the legal system of England has taken root. The office of attorney general dates from the European Middle Ages, but it did….

Who succeeded Eric Holder?

Eric Holder. He was succeeded by Loretta Lynch in April 2015. Holder subsequently returned to private practice, but he remained involved in politics and was especially noted for his opposition to gerrymandering. In 2017 he became chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.…. attorney general.

Where is Loretta Lynch from?

Loretta Lynch was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended Durham High School in Durham, North Carolina. Lynch (far right) is the second of three children and the only girl. She has an older brother Lorenzo Lynch, Jr., and a younger brother, Leonzo Lynch. [ Washington Post]

Who is Lorine Lynch's father?

Lynch comes from a long line of preachers. Her father, Rev. Lorenzo Lynch, is a retired fourth generation Baptist minister. Her mother, Lorine Lynch, was a school librarian. They both encouraged her to pursue an education and to follow her dreams. []

Who was the first African American woman to serve as Attorney General?

Lynch, 55, is the first African-American woman in history to serve as U.S. Attorney General. She was sworn in using Frederick Douglass’ bible and with the support of President Obama and Former Attorney General Eric Holder himself, who recommended Lynch as his successor when he announced that he was stepping down last September.

Who was Abner Louima?

Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, Lynch oversaw the prosecution team in the civil rights case of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant who was beaten and sexually assaulted by Brooklyn police officers. “I was extremely proud to be a part of that team,” she said.

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Overview

Attorney General of the United States

On November 8, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Lynch for the position of U.S. Attorney General, to succeed Eric Holder, who had previously announced his resignation, pending confirmation of his replacement. She was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 26, 2015, and approved by the Senate in a 56–43 vote on April 23, thereby becoming the firs…

Early life and education

Lynch was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. Her mother, Lorine Lynch, a school librarian, and her father, Lorenzo Lynch, a Baptist minister, both graduated from the HBCU Shaw University. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded on the campus of Shaw University. As a child, she spent hours with her father, watching court proceedings in the courthouse of Durham, North Carolina. Her early interest in court proceedings was increased by …

Career

Lynch's first job in the legal field was working as a litigation associate for Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. She joined the Eastern District as a drug and violent-crime prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office in 1990. From 1994 to 1998, she served as the chief of the Long Island office and worked on several political corruption cases involving the government of Brookhaven, New York. From 1998 to 1999, she was the chief assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District and headed …

Hillary Clinton email investigation

In early March 2016, hackers working with Dutch intelligence had reportedly provided a highly classified Russian government document to the FBI. The document, which had "possible translation issues," had purportedly contained a memorialization of an alleged conversation between Lynch and Amanda Renteria. One of the allegations within the document reportedly said that Renteria had been assured that "Lynch would keep the Clinton investigation from going too …

Personal life

Lynch married Stephen Hargrove in 2007. She uses her married name, Loretta Lynch Hargrove in her personal life. Her husband has two children from a previous marriage.

See also

• List of African-American United States Cabinet Secretaries
• List of female United States Cabinet Secretaries

Further reading

• "BBC Radio 4 - Profile, Loretta Lynch". BBC Online. May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.