Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Y Factor: Men Leading by Example Event

San Francisco ~ Thursday, April 12, 2012

Good morning.   Thank you, Esta for that kind introduction and for being a tireless leader in this nation’s work to end violence against women and children.   Esta and her staff at Futures without Violence have been invaluable partners to the Department of Justice for many, many years and I am grateful to be a part of this summit today.  

 I would also like to thank Ted and Cindy Waitt and the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention for their visionary work in communities around the nation and for bringing us together today for this most important purpose.

 It's great to be with you today, with so many individuals who are stepping up every day to the task of reducing and preventing violence against women and girls.  

 Let me begin by bringing greetings from the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, who wanted me to be sure to express his appreciation to all of you for the work you’re doing to bring real, positive change to your communities.  Your voices have really made a difference.

 When we survey the landscape around the country and see great efforts such as this summit taking place, it reminds us that in the 17 years since the Violence Against Women Act was first passed, we can truly say we've made great progress in the way communities respond to domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.   

 That Act was so important because it brought domestic violence and sexual assault out of the shadows and into the forefront of our national consciousness, changing the way gender-based violence is addressed in the United States.  

 It took a comprehensive approach to the issue, combining stiff penalties for offenders with critical programs to aid victims and prevent violence against women.   And it invited us to work together, creatively across lines of gender, race, religion and class; encouraging local jurisdictions to bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to share information and improve community responses.

 But as reauthorization of that landmark piece of legislation is currently pending, we are reminded that we still have so much work left to do.

 We are reminded that a third of women experience domestic violence in their lifetimes; that one in four will be raped while they are in college; that one in ten teens will be purposely hurt by someone they are dating; that before this day is done three more women will die from a domestic violence homicide.

These reminders are why curbing domestic and intimate partner violence and sexual assault remains an imperative that both the Attorney General and I are deeply committed to achieving.

Throughout my career I've been fortunate to hold many titles -- federal prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General, and now, as the number 3 ranking official in the Department of Justice, Acting Associate Attorney General -- but those pale in importance to the roles I play as father to a smart and talented daughter; as older brother to two magnificent sisters and brother-in-law to a third; as uncle; as son; as husband.

 And when I think of these amazing women and girls who make up the constellation of my life, and then I think about the statistics I just cited which all of you know too well, it's clear to me that this issue isn't just some abstract policy debate taking place miles away in corridors most of us will never walk.  

 This issue is personal.   And I know it's the same for you – it’s personal.   That's why you're here.   Because this is about our mothers and our sisters; our wives and our daughters; our partners and our friends.

 It's about our community and our relationships.   And that means it's about us.   Each one of us.   As well as, importantly, those of us who are men.

 As fathers, grandfathers, brothers, mentors, coaches, teachers and community members — men's voices must be part of this conversation -- in our homes, in our communities, in our schools and houses of worship -- as men this is our individual and collective responsibility.  

 And the involvement of men in this issue can make a critical difference.   A recent national survey found that 73% of men think they can help reduce domestic violence and sexual assault.   And when it comes to determining how men will act, do you know what one of the strongest influences is?   It's what men believe other men think.  

 And we know from research that most men incorrectly assume that many other men accept the use of violence in relationships.   So that puts a premium on men to stand up and step out and be heard to say that violence against women in any form is unacceptable.

 And that's why this Y Factor summit is so important, as we highlight men who are leading by example.   That's why it's important to honor Willie Mays and Joe Torre -- heroes of mine and two champions who are as passionate about creating communities free of violence as they are about rounding third and sliding into home.    We're grateful to both of these great men for their commitment and their example, because so many other men and boys are watching and what they do can make a huge difference.

 And I want you to know that at the Department of Justice, we are standing with you in this important work.   We are very fortunate to be led by an Attorney General who truly "gets it."   And he has done something extraordinary:   he's made preventing violence against women and children a top priority at the largest law enforcement agency in the world.

 I think one of the best examples of this is the Attorney General's Defending Childhood Initiative, which is examining ways we can break the cycle of violence that plagues too many of our families and communities across this country.  

 Our own research tells us that a majority of kids – over 60 percent – regardless of race – are exposed to some form of violence, crime, or abuse, ranging from brief encounters as witnesses to serious violent episodes to being direct victims themselves.

 And the research confirms what many of us already know: that when children are exposed to violence they are more likely to suffer from depression, alcohol and substance abuse, poor academic performance and sadly, are more likely to perpetrate violence themselves.  

 But the good news is that when we intervene with children, and when we do it early, we can help them avoid this fate.   We can help prevent children’s exposure to violence in the first place by raising awareness and increasing knowledge, and we can help mitigate the harmful effects of exposure to violence through appropriate and early interventions when violence does occur.   And that's exactly what the Defending Childhood initiative seeks to facilitate.  

 At the Justice Department we're also working with several organizations to create innovative approaches to old challenges.   O ne of my responsibilities as Acting Associate Attorney General includes overseeing the Justice Department's grant making programs for state, local and tribal law enforcement and communities throughout the country.   That includes the Office on Violence Against Women, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Community Oriented Policing, all of which administer critical funding to victim service providers, community partners in violence prevention, and law enforcement programs across the United States.  

 And one of the key initiatives we launched last year was a partnership with this organization called the Engaging Men in Preventing Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence program.

 This is truly a unique program which seeks to underscore the critical roles men play in preventing domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.   It employs a variety of strategies all aimed at developing male allies who are willing to engage in a number of different ways, from leaders who publicly speak out against such violence in their communities; to bystanders whose actions in times of crisis can make all the difference; to men who are willing to use their everyday influence with other men and boys to help turn the tide on violence against women and girls.

 I know some of our OVW Engaging Men grantees are here.   I’d like to ask them to stand and be acknowledged.    

 So let me close by saying "thank you":   Thank you for the dedication you've demonstrated to reducing domestic violence and sexual assault; thank you for being an inspiration to others looking for ways to stand up and make a difference.  

 Over forty years ago, Robert Kennedy spoke of the difference one person could make; that by their individual actions they send out tiny ripples of hope, ripples that are transformed through collective action into waves of change.  

 That's exactly what you are doing.   Your direct influence may only be on a few.   But by talking, by sharing, by leading by example, you are touching hearts.   And by touching hearts, you are changing attitudes and reducing violence.   And by changing attitudes, you are saving and changing lives.  

 Thank you for that effort and thank you for having me share in this summit with you today.  

Department of Justice Announces New Acting Director of ATF and Senior Advisor in the Office of Legal Policy

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WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced the appointments of U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota B. Todd Jones to serve as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson to become Senior Advisor on forensic science in the Office of Legal Policy (OLP).

“As a seasoned prosecutor and former military judge advocate, U.S. Attorney Jones is a demonstrated leader who brings a wealth of experience to this position,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.  “I have great confidence that he will be a strong and steady influence guiding ATF in fulfilling its mission of combating violent crime by enforcing federal criminal laws and regulations in the firearms and explosives industries.”

Jones will continue to serve in the capacity of U.S. Attorney when he assumes the role of ATF acting director on Aug. 31, 2011.

A veteran of the Justice Department, Jones has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota under two presidential administrations.  He first served from 1998 to 2001.  He was nominated again in 2009 by President Obama and has been in that role since being confirmed that year.

In 2009, the Attorney General appointed him to serve as chair of the Attorney General Advisory Committee (AGAC), a group of U.S. Attorneys appointed to advise the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues affecting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country.  Jones previously served as a member, vice chair and chair of the AGAC from 1999 to 2001.

During his several years as a federal prosecutor, Jones conducted grand jury investigations and has been the lead trial lawyer in many federal prosecutions involving drug trafficking, firearms, financial fraud and violent crime.

Throughout his career, Jones has served as a partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi (2001-2009); a partner with Greene Espel, PLLP (2001; 1994-1997); First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota (1997-1998); and Assistant U.S. Attorney (1992-1994). 

Following admission to the Minnesota bar, Jones went on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as both a trial defense counsel and prosecutor in a number of courts martial proceedings.

Jones received his B.A. from Macalester College in 1979 and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1983.

Melson will join OLP on Aug. 31, 2011, in his new role as senior advisor where he will focus on issues relating to policy development in forensic science.

“Ken brings decades of experience at the department and extensive knowledge in forensic science to his new role and I know he will be a valuable contributor on these issues,” said Attorney General Holder.  “As he moves into this new role, I want to thank Ken for his dedication to the department over the last three decades.”

He is a past president and distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and currently participates on behalf of the department on the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.  He has been an adjunct professor at George Washington University for almost 30 years teaching both law and forensic science courses.

Melson was appointed acting director of ATF in 2009.  Prior to that, he was director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and served several years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Melson received his B.A. from Denison University in 1970 and his J.D. from George Washington University in 1973.

Federal Agencies Teach Leadership Skills, Hear from Students at 2011 Intertribal Youth Summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Week-Long Youth Leadership Conference Focuses on Public Safety Within Tribal Communities

WASHINGTON – One hundred and seventy five young men and women from nearly 50 tribal communities across the country have convened at the week-long 2011 National Intertribal Youth Summit in Santa Fe, N.M., which runs from July 24-28, 2011. The summit features administration officials from the White House and the Departments of Justice, Interior, Health and Human Services and Education, and it coincides with the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s signing of the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) into law.  

The 2011 National Intertribal Youth Summit is a youth leadership conference for tribal youth participants to meet other American Indian and Alaska Native youth through special sessions targeting leadership development and critical youth issues such as healthy relationships and lifestyles, education, substance and alcohol abuse, cultural preservation, community development and protecting the environment.

The summit also provides an opportunity for Obama administration officials to hear directly from youth in Indian Country. The administration and federal agencies have made a commitment to building healthier and safer communities through strengthened coordination and collaboration with tribal partners.

 “You are the future, and the small choices you make can have an enormous impact on your communities,” Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli told the group of assembled students. “Tribal communities face unique challenges, and it can’t be overstated the importance of your leadership in securing a bright future for your friends, families, and neighbors.”

In response to requests from tribal leaders for the development of more culturally appropriate prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and reentry programs for tribal youth and families, the Justice Department launched the Youth Summit initiative to promote long-term improvement in public safety in tribal communities.

The summit’s focus was on youth voices.   During the week-long session, participants had the opportunity to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to run in their communities.   In a special session called Voices of Youth, participants shared thoughts, concerns and recommendations on ways to address public safety and positively impact the lives of youth across Indian Country—providing a platform for honest dialogue with federal officials. Additional workshops provided tribal youth with knowledge and skills in leadership development and strategies for achieving academic and career success.

Youth were nominated by their tribal youth program coordinators and submitted an application to attend the summit. The Department of Justice’s Office on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) made the final selections. In addition to the Youth Summit this week, Attorney General Eric Holder, thirty U.S. Attorneys and other administration officials will visit Rapid City and Pine Ridge Reservation, S.D., to engage in listening sessions with tribal leaders and hear from advocates in the fields of tribal safety and domestic violence. Attorney General Holder will also participate in a special wreath laying ceremony at Wounded Knee.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Appoints Stuart M. Goldberg as Chief of Staff and Lisa O. Monaco as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General

WASHINGTON – Deputy Attorney General James Cole today announced the appointment of Lisa O. Monaco as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and Stuart M. Goldberg as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General.  

“Lisa and Stuart are veteran career prosecutors who have served the department in a number of capacities over the years and I am grateful that they will continue their service in the Deputy Attorney General's office,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole.   “Stuart and Lisa have demonstrated leadership and an unrivaled commitment to this institution and I am confident they will be key assets in our efforts to keep the American people safe, ensure the fairness and integrity of our financial markets, and protect the traditional missions of the department.”

Since 2010, Monaco has served as the acting Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and before that served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General since 2009.   Prior to joining the Deputy Attorney General's office, Monaco was the Chief of Staff to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, working on a wide range of national security and law enforcement issues.   She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Director Mueller during her tenure at the FBI.

From 2001 to 2007, Monaco served as a federal prosecutor.   She was appointed to the Enron Task Force, serving as a co-lead trial counsel in the prosecution of five former executives of Enron Broadband Services. For her work on the Enron Task Force, Monaco received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Justice Department’s highest award.   Prior to her appointment to the Enron Task Force, she served as the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.  

Monaco served as Counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno from 1998 to 2001, providing advice and guidance on national security, law enforcement, budget and oversight issues.

Before joining the department, Monaco clerked for the Honorable Jane R. Roth, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.   She earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and her B.A. from Harvard University.

Since 2005, Goldberg has served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, where he oversaw the work of over 85 Assistant U.S. Attorneys involved in criminal prosecutions and civil litigation.   In December 2010, he was awarded a Director’s Award for his superior performance as a manager at the 2010 Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director’s Awards ceremony.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Goldberg was Principal Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, the office that oversees the federal effort to combat corruption through the prosecution of officials and employees at all levels of government.   Goldberg began his career with the Department as a trial attorney at Public Integrity in 1988.   He also served the section as Deputy Chief for Litigation and Senior Litigation Counsel.

Before joining the Department, Goldberg worked as a civil litigator at Rogers & Wells LLP, focusing largely on securities and commodities fraud, First Amendment and antitrust cases.

Goldberg has been a member of the adjunct faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching courses on professional responsibility.   He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Honoring Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy

By Tracy Russo

Earlier today, on the 50th anniversary of his swearing-in as Attorney General, the Department of Justice came together to celebrate the achievements and enduring contributions of Robert F. Kennedy.  Joined by Kennedy family members, including his wife, Ethel Kennedy, renowned civil rights leaders, historians and current and former Justice Department employees this event commemorated the life and service of our nation’s 64th Attorney General.

Attorney General Eric Holder reflected on the enduring legacy of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, noting:

No one can doubt how Robert Francis Kennedy chose to use the law when he was Attorney General.  He taught us that law can be a powerful force for good – if we are willing, as he was, to roll up our sleeves, to summon our courage and our best efforts, and to lead from the front lines of change.

In doing just that, Attorney General Kennedy championed the cause of the least among us – and made our nation more just, more fair, and more humane.  He was not afraid to dream a better world and to act to create it.

However, the Attorney General also pointed to the work left still to do:

In his first speech as Attorney General, Robert Kennedy argued that the time for apathy had long since passed; that it was time to, “[prove] to the world that we really mean it when we say that all men are created free and equal before the law.”

“All of us,” he said, “might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world – but we don’t.  And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity.”

Despite all that’s been accomplished in recent decades, we – still – do not live in tranquil times.  We continue to face difficulty, injustice, division, and an array of challenges that can serve to sharpen our skills, steel our resolve, focus our energy, and impel us to action.

In times like these, the importance of Robert Kennedy’s work becomes ever clearer…

So, as we celebrate Robert Kennedy’s life and his impact on this Department, let us also commit ourselves to carrying on – and carrying out – his mission to make gentle the life of this world, and to make good on the promise of our nation.  Let us answer his call, “to face up to our nation’s problems and live up to its founding principles.”  And let us heed the wisdom of his extraordinary example.

In marking this special anniversary, the Justice Department is pleased to release a selection of historic photos from the Department’s archives. These images capture Attorney General Kennedy at work in the Department, at home with his family, and in public with people from all corners of the globe.

Also, for the first time, the Department of Justice library has compiled and digitized a collection of Robert F. Kennedy’s statements and speeches from his tenure as Attorney General. These speeches, from 1961 to 1964 provide a window into the world of the Justice Department during that time.

Longest-Serving Federal Prosecutor Honored for Six Decades of Service

By Tracy Russo

On March 19, 1951, a young attorney and World War II veteran arrived at

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.

, for his first day of work at the Department of Justice.

John “Jack” C. Keeney wasn’t sure what to expect, though he never imagined that he was at the beginning a term of service to the Department that would span nearly six decades. Nor could he have predicted that his retirement celebration would double as the largest-known gathering of attorneys general and deputy attorneys general in Department history.

But on a day that will long live on in Justice Department lore, that’s exactly what happened minutes ago, as hundreds of Keeney’s colleagues packed into the Great Hall to honor, celebrate and send off the longest-serving federal prosecutor in American history.

When Keeney, 88, walked on stage at 3:09 p.m., the sea of Justice Department employees past and present leapt to their feet and did not stop applauding for a full minute. Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer set the tone for what he called a “remarkable” day and an historic Justice Department “homecoming.”

“It looks like we have a standing room only crowd today,” he said. “And that is exactly as it should be, as we gather to celebrate a man who has spent his entire career standing up – standing up for justice, standing up for integrity, and standing up for his country.”

In addition to Breuer, Keeney was joined on stage by Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and David Margolis, another Department legend and Keeney’s close friend. He smiled throughout the ceremony, tearing up on occasion and laughing at his own expense more than once.

“It’s been a fascinating career,” Keeney said. “I really felt privileged to work in this great Department. I really felt privileged to work with great people. All I can say to you is, ‘Thank you for everything.’”

But for the full hour, it was everyone else who seemed to be saying, “Thank you for everything” to Jack Keeney.

“As those of you who’ve worked closely with Mr. Keeney know, he is quick to share credit. And he has never sought the spotlight,” Attorney General Holder said. “Yet, he has stood out. For decades, his talents and achievements have been well known and highly regarded across the Department, and in legal circles throughout – and far beyond – the country.”

Keeney began his remarkable career in 1951 as an attorney in the Internal Security unit of the Criminal Division, prosecuting conspiracy cases under the Smith Act. In 1960, he joined the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, ultimately becoming Deputy Chief and developing a close relationship with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. In 1969, he became Fraud Section Chief, where he emphasized white-collar criminal prosecutions. And in 1973, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General, a position he has held since, responsible for overseeing countless prosecutions of organized crime, racketeering and public corruption.

He has been honored with the nation’s highest meritorious service awards – and a building in Washington, D.C. is named in his honor. But the full measure of Keeney’s influence, Holder argued, cannot be so easily expressed. “No words and no award,” he said, “can do justice to the countless ways that Mr. Keeney has delivered justice.”

During the ceremony, Keeney was flourished with a commemorative plaque; a service award; a letter from President Obama, who said “a grateful nation thanks you for your service;” and a portrait that will be displayed in the Criminal Division. When it was unveiled, Keeney shook his head, visibly overwhelmed – rare for the unflappable Justice Department legend who has been authorizing wiretaps and signing indictments of America’s most notorious criminals for nearly half a century.

Mueller described the famous Keeney brand of quiet resilience, wisdom, and utter persistence using the words of George Bernard Shaw, “Men are wise in proportion not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience.” For years, Mueller said, “Mr. Keeney has shown a tremendous capacity for experience. He is a true wise man.”

Margolis added that Keeney is a true kind man, too. When Margolis suffered a massive heart attack, he said, he opened his eyes on his hospital bed to find a familiar face starring back. “When I woke up, who was standing there, but Jack Keeney!” he said. “And I knew everything would be all right.”

Following a video tracing Keeney’s roots from a coal-mining town in rural Pennsylvania during the Great Depression to the halls of the nation’s Department of Justice, where he became known as the “oracle,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Grindler turned to the future, promising that public servants at the Department would “carry forward the Jack Keeney standard and the Jack Keeney story for generations to come.”

But as one employee standing in the back of the room remarked, as the audience leapt to its feet for another standing ovation at the ceremony’s end, “This is going to be a big change.” It was the thought on everyone’s mind.