Sessions Names Interim US Attorney for NJ

On Jan 4, 2018

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday appointed Craig Carpenito as Interim U.S. Attorney, NJ District, replacing Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.

Carpenito is a partner at the firm of Alston & Bird, where he is co-chair of the Litigation & Trial Practice Group and the Government & Internal Investigations Team. He focuses his practice on governmental and corporate investigations, securities and commodities enforcement matters, white collar criminal defense, broker-dealer and investment advisor regulatory matters, financial services litigation and healthcare investigations.

He worked under Governor Chris Christie at the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2005 to 2008, where he served in the Securities and Health Care Fraud Unit. Additionally, he served as senior counsel for the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission’s enforcement division in New York. He also defended Gov. Christie during the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal against a criminal complaint by a North Jersey activist.

In a statement, Governor Christie said, “Craig is an outstanding lawyer and the type of decisive leader the office really needs. I am confident he will be a U.S. Attorney that everyone in New Jersey will be proud of in the years ahead.”

Carpenito is a graduate of Rider University and Seton Hall Law School. He was ranked as a leading lawyer in white collar defense and investigations by Chambers USA, which described him as a “phenomenal lawyer” who is “extremely dedicated to his clients.” In April 2012, he was one of five attorneys nationwide to be named a Rising Star by Law360 as one of the top white collar defense and government/internal investigations attorneys under the age of 40. He was also selected to New York Metro Super Lawyers since 2011.

Among 17 appointments made by Sessions yesterday, Carpenito’s selection as Interim US Attorney will last 120 days, or until President Trump appoints, and the U.S. Senate confirms, a replacement for Fitzpatrick, who will continue in the office as Carpenito’s first assistant U.S. attorney.

In a number of US Attorney’s Offices across the country, First Assistant United States Attorneys are currently serving as Acting United States Attorneys under the Vacancies Reform Act.  However, as of today, some of those Acting United States Attorneys will have served the maximum amount of time permitted under the Act.  The appointments announced by the Attorney General today fill these vacancies.

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