Larry Dean Thompson (born November 15, 1945 in Hannibal, Missouri) was a deputy Attorney General of the United States under United States President George W. Bush until August 2003. While Deputy Attorney General, he led counter-terrorism efforts and efforts to punish white-collar crime. Among other accomplishments, he oversaw prosecutions against officials at Enron.
Early life and education
Thompson is the son of a railroad laborer from Hannibal, Missouri. He received his bachelor's degree, cum laude , from Culver-Stockton College in 1967, his master's degree from Michigan State University in 1969, and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Michigan in 1974.
In 1970, Thompson married Brenda Anne Taggart. They have two sons.
Corporate career
Thompson worked as an industrial relations representative for Ford Motor Company during law school. After graduation he worked at an attorney for Monsanto Company in St. Louis until 1977. That year he joined the law firm of King & Spalding in Atlanta, Georgia. He left the firm in 1982 for four years as U.S. attorney for the northern District of Georgia; however, he returned and was made a partner in 1986. He left King & Spalding in 2001 to return to the Justice Department as Deputy Attorney General.
Thompson was the director of the Providian Financial Corporation, during the time when Providian paid over $400 million to settle charges of consumer and securities fraud. Thompson made $4.7 million dollars in the sale of Providian stock prior to the allegations. In 2002, Judicial Watch filed suit against Thompson for allegedly artificially inflating the stock price in order to illegally increase his earnings in the sale of stock. Thompson has denied any wrongdoing.
At Department of Justice
From 1982 to 1986, he served as U.S. attorney for the northern District of Georgia, and led the Southeastern Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The New York Times describes him as "a moderate" who is "respected by both Democrats and Republicans."
In 2001, Thompson was appointed as Deputy U.S. Attorney General by President Bush.
Maher Arar
Thompson was responsible for signing a deportation memo that sent Canadian citizen Maher Arar to Syria where he was tortured. Thompson signed that memo despite an immigration panel's decision that Arar would be tortured there, a clear breach of international laws prohibiting torture. The Canadian government has since apologized for its conduct in the matter and paid millions to Arar. Arar's attempts to get justice in the U.S. have been opposed on 'state secrets' grounds by both the Bush and Obama administrations, and was recently dismissed on those grounds by the 2nd Circuit Appeals Court.
Isn't this a crime? Has Thompson served time for this?
Thompson Memorandum
In January 2003 Thompson issued an internal Justice Department document informally titled the Thompson Memorandum written to help federal prosecutors decide whether to charge a corporation, rather than or in addition to individuals within the corporation, with criminal offenses. The guidelines were considered tough because they require that to claim cooperation, companies must (1) turn over materials from internal investigations, (2) waive attorney-client privilege, and (3) not provide targeted executive with company-paid lawyers. The guidelines were criticized for, among other things, "seriously eroding" attorney-client privilege. These guidelines were "eased" in December 2006 by Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty who issued a revised version of the memorandum.
Career after the Department of Justice
In August 2003 Thompson left the Justice Department and was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution for a year before accepting the position of senior vice-president for government affairs and general counsel at Pepsico in Purchase, New York. Thompson is also a visiting professor at the University of Georgia law school. Thompson has also taught at Georgia State University College of Law.
Thompson was named in the press as a leading candidate for Attorney General after John Ashcroft resigned on November 9, 2004. Thompson, if selected, would have been the first African-American ever to head the Justice Department. Instead, Alberto Gonzales was selected as Ashcroft's replacement. Later, Thompson's name was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. With the resignation of Gonzales in August 2007, Thompson's name again surfaced a candidate for Attorney General. In 2008, the American Bar Association mentioned Thompson again as a possible Attorney General or Supreme Court justice during a John McCain administration.
See also
- George W. Bush Supreme Court candidates
References
- ^ Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations http://www.usdoj.gov/dag/cftf/corporate_guidelines.htm
- ^ a b Dwyer, Paula (17 March 2003) "What's Cooperation?: Dept. of Justice issues guidelines for corporate cooperation" Business Week 3824: p. 51
- ^ Coyle, Marcia (15 September 2006) "DOJ defends Thompson Memo" Fulton County Daily Report from National Law Journal
- ^ Vartanian, Thomas P. (22 December 2006) "Viewpoint: Justice Dept. Eases Push On Firms' Cooperation " American Banker 171(245): p. 10
- ^ a b Staff (13 September 2004) "Larry D. Thompson named general counsel for PepsiCo" Jet 106(11): p.30
- ^ Carter, Terry (2008-11). "The Lawyers Who May Run America". ABA Journal . http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/the_lawyers_who_may_run_america_mccain . Retrieved 2008-10-22 .
- ^ Biskupic, Joan (October 23, 2008). "For divided high court, two potential legacies". USA Today . http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2008-10-23-candidates-courts_N.htm . Retrieved 2008-10-25 .
Atlanta Immigration Lawyers Office, Atlanta Immigration Attorney
The Atlanta Office Offers Quality Immigration Representation to Our Clients
Atlanta & Birmingham Business Attorney, The Lawyer for Small Business
ATLANTA, GEORGIA | BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA | SUSAN PERRILLOUX BILLEAUD, L.L.C., is 'The Lawyer for Small Business.' Our services—business, immigration, contracts, asset protection ...
Siskind Susser - Atlanta Immigration Law Firm | Atlanta Immigration ...
"Immigration Law Firm Opens Office in Atlanta" July 19, 2002: SSHD attorney Karen Weinstock is featured in this article from Global Atlanta about the firm's new office in Atlanta ...
Atlanta Immigration Lawyer | Immigration Attorney Atlanta, Georgia
The Atlanta immigration attorneys at Colombo, Hurd & Brandt assist businesses, families and individuals in Atlanta and throughout the world with a full spectrum of immigration ...
Atlanta Immigration Attorney
Atlanta immigration attorney, Dale Schwartz concentrating in citizenship legalization, US residency, green cards, spouse visas and political asylum cases
GA Immigration Attorney Directory: Atlanta lawyers.
Agencies in Atlanta which might offer a no-cost or low cost consultation with a licensed citizenship and immigration attorney.
Atlanta Georgia Immigration Attorney-Atlanta Georgia Immigrationt ...
Atlanta Immigration Attorney offers high-quality representation in Immigration & Nationality matters.770-257-8114
GEORGIA: ATLANTA IMMIGRATION LAWYER, ATLANTA DEPORTATION, ATTORNEY ...
Atlanta: immigration lawyer in Atlanta. Deportation attorney representing immigration law clients in deportation and removal proceedings, divorce, and in obtaining green card ...
Atlanta Georgia Immigration Attorneys | Atlanta Georgia Immigration ...
Atlanta Georgia Immigration Attorneys - LawInfo's attorney directory will help you find an immigration attorney near you to assist you with your immigration issues.
ATLANTA IMMIGRATION LAWYER, ATTORNEY | DEPORTATION: ATLANTA, GEORGIA ...
Georgia: Atlanta immigration lawyer, attorney; Georgia (GA)Wrongful Death Attorneys, immigration green card; Atlanta deportation lawyer and Personal Injury Lawyers handling car ...