The government’s top terrorism prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General for National Security David Kris, announced Thursday that he’ll resign on March 4.
Kris, TPM has learned, will become general counsel for a company called Intellectual Ventures. The company did not immediately return a request for comment.
Intellectual Ventures, based in Washington state, is led by Microsoft’s former chief technology officer. Its goal is to “assemble a world-class team to invent and invest in inventions” and they have a team of “scientists, technologists, business leaders, strategists, engineers, mathematicians, programmers, attorneys, IP experts, and support staff,” according to their website.
Kris, DOJ said in a press release “helped lead the department’s response to a number of serious threats to the nation, including the attempted bombing of Times Square, the al-Qaeda plot to bomb the New York subway system, the attempted detonation of a bomb onboard an airliner on Christmas Day 2009, and the arrest and prosecution of Mumbai plotter David Headley.”
“David Kris led the National Security Division (NSD) with great distinction through a period when the department confronted a number of threats to the nation’s security, and there is no doubt that his tireless work helped keep the American people safe,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. “I will miss his leadership.”
“I am grateful for my two years of service as Assistant Attorney General for National Security,” Kris said in a statement. “I started my legal career at the Department of Justice, and it has been a tremendous privilege to work with the department’s leadership and the dedicated professionals in the National Security Division.”
Late Update: Intellectual Ventures writes on their blog:
We have new talent joining the ranks. IV President and COO Adriane Brown told us earlier today that David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, will be joining the IV team as General Counsel. Here’s an excerpt from Adriane’s email to the company:David brings nearly twenty years of legal experience both in government roles and in the private sector. He has expertise in assessing legal risk while also taking into account operational efficiency. In between positions at the US Department of Justice, David served as Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Time Warner where he developed an enterprise-wide ethics and compliance program for offices in more than 50 countries and provided counsel to executives regarding corporate legal risk and compliance.
With David’s experience, intellect and engaging personality, I’m certain he will effectively step into the role of General Counsel and lead our well-established legal department. David is well known for his ability to assess a situation from all angles and make decisions that bridge the gap between theory and practice. He is a strong leader, a bright lawyer and a great addition to the company.
Welcome to the team, David!
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