Who is US Attorney Nominee John Lausch?


The White House vetted a number of finalists to replace the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District Zachary Fardon, who was asked in March to step down by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

President Donald Trump has tapped former federal prosecutor John Lausch to be his nominee. Lausch still needs to go through the confirmation process by the Senate Judiciary Committee this fall. 

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So, who is John Lausch? Why was he chosen to head up one of the busiest U.S. attorney’s offices in the country? And what is the vetting process like?

Joining host Carol Marin in discussion are three former U.S. attorneys: Scott Lassar, the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and currently a partner in the law firm Sidley Austin; Gary Shapiro, who was the interim U.S. attorney for more than a year before Zach Fardon was sworn in; and David Hoffman, a former assistant u.s. attorney and Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Gangs Section who also served as Chicago’s inspector general.

Below, some facts about Lausch.

• Lausch was captain of Joliet Catholic High School’s state champion football team.

• He was also captain of Harvard’s football team in 1991. He played linebacker.

• He applied to five Ivy League schools and only Harvard accepted him, according to the Boston Globe.

• He graduated from Harvard University in 1992 with an A.B. in general studies (government concentration) cum laude.

• He graduated from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law in 1996 cum laude (Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, Northwestern University Law Review).

• He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1999 to 2010.

• He was a deputy chief in the narcotics and gangs section from 2005-2010 under former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

• He’s a partner at Kirkland & Ellis law firm.

• Trump selected Lausch as the nominee in August.

• He was a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School where he taught a seminar on federal criminal practice.

• He grew up in Joliet and now lives in Beverly with his wife and three children.


Related stories:

Trump Picks John Lausch for Chicago US Attorney

June 30: President Donald Trump has selected former federal prosecutor John Lausch to be the next U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, according to multiple reports Friday.


Former US Attorney Zachary Fardon Speaks Out

June 30: Recently departed U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon, who brought down former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and CPS chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett, joins us for an exclusive interview.


US Attorney Zachary Fardon Asked to Resign

March 10: United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has asked for the immediate resignation of 46 remaining U.S. attorneys that were appointed under the previous presidential administration.


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