Kenneth Polite

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Kenneth Polite

| image = Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General.jpg

| office = United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division

| president = Joe Biden

| term_start = July 21, 2021

| term_end = July 28, 2023

| predecessor = Brian Benczkowski

| successor = TBD

| office1 = United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana

| term_start1 = September 20, 2013

| term_end1 = March 10, 2017

| president1 = Barack Obama
Donald Trump

| predecessor1 = Jim Letten

| successor1 = Peter G. Strasser

| birth_name = Kenneth Allen Polite Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1976}}

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Florencia Greer

| children = 2

| education = Harvard University (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)

}}

Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. (born 1976) is an American lawyer who previously served as the assistant attorney general for the criminal division in the United States Department of Justice from 2021 to 2023.{{cite web|title=Kevin A. Polite (sic) Confirmed As DOJ Assistant Attorney General|url=https://www.ebony.com/news/kevin-a-polite-confirmed-as-doj-assistant-attorney-general/|date=2021-07-24|website=Ebony|access-date=2021-09-30}} He also served as a United States attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 2013 to 2017.{{cite web|url=http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2016/03/07/honorees-chosen-for-12th-leadership-in-law-class/|title=Honorees Chosen for 12th 'Leadership in Law' Class|publisher=New Orleans CityBusiness|first=Natalie |last=Chandler |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_52b38871-23f3-51de-9a00-5a270b231f66.html|title=Holder Lauds New U.S. Attorney in New Orleans Visit|publisher=The Advocate|first=Michael |last=Kunzelman|date=December 5, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

Early life and education

Polite was born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Polite%20Public%20SJQ.pdf United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees: Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr] to teenage parents. His mother, Rosalind, was still in high school when he was born and his father Kenneth Polite Sr., eventually became a police officer. Along with brothers, Damion and Tyrrel, Polite was raised by his single mother in the Lower Ninth Ward.{{cite web|url=http://www.fox8live.com/story/24822953/us-attorney-kenneth-polite-and-his-mother-remember-humble-beginnings|title=U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite and His Mother Remember Humble Beginnings|publisher=WVUE New Orleans|first=Nancy |last=Parker|date=2014|access-date=October 17, 2016}} In 1993, he graduated as valedictorian from De La Salle High School in New Orleans.{{cite web|url=http://nolawoman.com/articles/spotlight/man-of-the-month/295/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305020010/http://nolawoman.com/articles/spotlight/man-of-the-month/295/ |archivedate=March 5, 2017 |url-status=dead |title=Kenneth Polite Brings New Energy to the US District Attorney's Office in Eastern Louisiana|publisher=NolaWoman|first=Jessica |last=Beck|date= |access-date=October 17, 2016}} He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/supporters-say-polite-is-a-great-choice-for-u-s-attorney-post/|title=Supporters Say Polite is a Great Choice for U.S. Attorney Post|publisher=The Louisiana Weekly|first=Edmund |last=Lewis|date=March 11, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

Career

In 2001, Polite served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas L. Ambro of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 2002 to 2006, he served as an associate at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City. He served as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2013, he was a shareholder at the law firm of Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he headed the firm's White Collar Crime Defense Group and served as the hiring partner.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/27/president-obama-nominates-kenneth-allen-polite-jr-serve-us-attorney |title=President Obama Nominates Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr., to serve as U.S. Attorney|date= June 27, 2013|via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=October 16, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_8407935e-f4f9-5564-af81-d102304326c6.html|title=Five to Receive Monte M. Leman Awards|publisher=The Advocate|date=October 20, 2014 |access-date=October 16, 2016}} From 2018 to 2021, he was a partner at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.{{Cite web|title=Morgan Lewis Partner Kenneth Polite Confirmed as DOJ Assistant Attorney General|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/news/2021/07/morgan-lewis-partner-kenneth-polite-confirmed-as-doj-assistant-attorney-general|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.morganlewis.com|language=en}}

=United States Attorney=

File:Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.jpg

On June 27, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Polite to be the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 12, 2013, by voice vote. On September 17, 2013, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.{{cite web |url=https://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/hello-world/ |title=United States Senate Periodical Press Gallery |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209173756/https://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/hello-world/ |archivedate=2020-12-09 |quote=Cal. #335, Kenneth Polite to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Confirmed by unanimous consent.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/113/crec/2013/09/17/CREC-2013-09-17-senate.pdf |title=Proceedings and Debates of the 113th Congress, First Session |volume=159 |number=122 |page=S6544 |date=September 17, 2013 |work=Congressional Record |accessdate=April 14, 2021 |publisher=United States Government Publishing Office }} He received his commission on September 20, 2013, and took the oath of office the same day. In 2014, Polite created the Crescent City Keepers Mentoring Program, aimed at using faith communities to mentor at-risk youth. He also created an anti corruption unit to address claims of civil rights violations and public corruption.{{cite web|url=http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/special-sections/catholic-schools-week/2978-us-attorney-has-de-la-salle-roots|title=U.S. Attorney Has De La Salle Roots|publisher=Clarion Herald|first=Peter|last=Finney|date=January 22, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215329/http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/special-sections/catholic-schools-week/2978-us-attorney-has-de-la-salle-roots|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/news/archdiocesan-general-news/3705-reaching-out-in-faith-for-peace|title=Reaching Out in Faith For Peace|publisher=Clarion Herald|first=Peter|last=Finney|date=September 19, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212755/http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/news/archdiocesan-general-news/3705-reaching-out-in-faith-for-peace|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/10/kenneth_polite_strikes_low-key.html|title=U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite, One of Obama's Youngest Appointees, Focuses on Youth in First Year|publisher=The Times-Picayune|first=Andy |last=Grimm|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016}} That same year, Polite introduced the 30-2-2 reentry program for former inmates. The program joined with 30 local businesses who agreed to hire two formerly incarcerated individuals for two years.{{cite web|url=http://clarionherald.org/clarion/index.php/news/latest-news/155-breaking-news/3835-changes-being-made-in-justice-system-sentencing|title=Changes Being Made in Justice System, Sentencing|publisher=Clarion Herald|first=Christine|last=Bordelon|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018223708/http://clarionherald.org/clarion/index.php/news/latest-news/155-breaking-news/3835-changes-being-made-in-justice-system-sentencing|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurenbrooke-eisen/prosecutors-can-play-role_b_5908010.html|title=Prosecutors Can Play Role in Ending Mass Incarceration|work=The Huffington Post|first=Lauren-Brooke |last=Eisen|date=November 30, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

In 2015, Polite was named to the Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys, a national advisory board for the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/politics/article_b123fe18-746d-56bb-b52e-04f416b66180.html|title=U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite Named to Panel That Will Advise AG Loretta Lynch|publisher=The New Orleans Advocate|first=Matt |last=Sledge|date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=October 17, 2016}} The advisory board provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General and other Justice Department officials on issues related to policy and operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/04/us_attorney_kenneth_polite_app.html|title=U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite Appointed to DOJ Advisory Committee|publisher=The Times Picayune|first=Andy |last=Grimm |date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=October 17, 2016}}

Under Polite, the U.S. attorney's office has brought several high-profile cases against individuals such as Robert Durst, Ray Nagin, Big Freedia and Darren Sharper.{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/robert-durst-sentenced-over-seven-years-prison|title=Robert Durst Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison|publisher=United States Department of Justice|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_99d1a793-796b-58b1-b765-73811765cd4c.html |title=U.S. Attorney, Local Watchdogs Hail Ray Nagin Guilty Verdict|publisher=The Times-Picayune|first=Juliet |last=Linderman|date=February 12, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/ex-nfl-star-darren-sharper-18-years-prison-rape-article-1.2756391|title=Ex-NFL Star Darren Sharper Gets 18 Years in Federal Prison For Drugging, Raping More Than Half Dozen Women|work=Daily News|first=Christian |last=Red|date=August 18, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

= Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division =

On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Polite to be an Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division within the United States Department of Justice.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-12 |title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate 11 Key Administration Leaders on National Security and Law Enforcement |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/12/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-11-key-administration-leaders-on-national-security-and-law-enforcement/ |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} On May 26, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/05/19/2021/nominations United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for May 26, 2021] On June 17, 2021, the committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor. On July 20, 2021, the Senate confirmed Polite by a vote of 56–44.{{cite web |title=PN423 - Nomination of Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/423 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=20 July 2021 |date=19 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr., of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Attorney General) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00270.htm |website=US Senate |access-date=18 March 2022}} He was sworn in on July 21, 2021. In July 2023, US attorney general Merrick Garland said in a statement that Polite will step down at the end of July after 2 years of Assistant Attorney General.

Personal life

Polite is married to Florencia Greer Polite, Chief, Division of General Obstetrics & Gynecology, at the University of Pennsylvania. The couple met while attending Harvard. The couple and their two daughters live in Philadelphia and are Catholic.{{cite web |url=https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_547d285d-a4b8-5be2-b260-b440d887eee4.html |title=U.S. Attorney candidate Ken Polite Brings Youth, Experience, Backers Say|publisher=The Times-Picayune|date=February 8, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/ob_gyn/faculty_detail.aspx?name=polite_florencia|title=Florencia Polite, M.D. |publisher=LSU Health|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

He has served on the Louisiana Civil Service Commission and the board of New Orleans College Prep Charter School in Central City. Polite cites the murder of his half-brother in New Orleans in 2004 as a factor in becoming a prosecutor.{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/opinions/article_6cce4447-c347-5eb8-9d7c-9af36c072928.html |title=Kenneth Polite's Brother's Murder Stays on His Mind|publisher=The Times-Picayune|first=Jarvis|last=DeBerry|date=March 28, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

Polite is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.{{cite web|url=http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/new-orleans-schools-receive-more-than-60k-in-computer-technology-from-kappa-alpha-psi/34654460 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812225742/http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/new-orleans-schools-receive-more-than-60k-in-computer-technology-from-kappa-alpha-psi/34654460 |archivedate=August 12, 2015 |title=New Orleans Schools Receive More than $60K in computer Technology From Kappa Alpha Psi|publisher=WDSU New Orleans|first=Donnell |last=Jackson|date=August 11, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2016}} In 2015, Polite received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University.{{cite press release |url=http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2015/3/20/3582 |title=Loyola announces Bob Woodward as 2015 commencement speaker |date=March 20, 2015 |work=Loyola University |access-date=April 14, 2021 |quote=Kenneth Allen Polite Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, will receive an honorary degree at the College of Law ceremony. |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414153418/http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2015/3/20/3582 |url-status=dead }}