U.S. Attorney in New Orleans Steps Down
By: Staff
Updated: December 6, 2012
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced Thursday that he will step down from his post at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans.
Letten said that he would leave the office on Dec. 11.
"As it's always been, it is an honor and distinct privilege for me to stand before you - the citizens of Louisiana - in the service of you, our nation and our constitution. My purpose this morning in addressing you, is to announce that, effective next Tuesday, Dec. 11, my resignation as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana will take place," he announced.
Letten then said he would retire from service in federal government.
"Make no mistake about it: I stand here before you - the members of the press corps and the citizens we serve - and all of our great partners out here, with enormous unabashed pride in everything we've accomplished and in the tremendous successes we've forged over these years," Letten said.
Dana Boente, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was named as the acting U.S. Attorney and will succeed Letten. The Department of Justice will determine who will assume the role on a more permanent basis.
Letten was one of only a few holdover U.S. attorneys from the administration of former President George W. Bush, and was the longest serving in that position.
The move comes after multiple scandals rocked the New Orleans office. Two prosecutors who work under Letten, including his former top deputy, posted defamatory comments on a news website under alias names.
The remarks involved targets and defendants in open criminal cases.
Letten said that he would leave the office on Dec. 11.
"As it's always been, it is an honor and distinct privilege for me to stand before you - the citizens of Louisiana - in the service of you, our nation and our constitution. My purpose this morning in addressing you, is to announce that, effective next Tuesday, Dec. 11, my resignation as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana will take place," he announced.
Letten then said he would retire from service in federal government.
"Make no mistake about it: I stand here before you - the members of the press corps and the citizens we serve - and all of our great partners out here, with enormous unabashed pride in everything we've accomplished and in the tremendous successes we've forged over these years," Letten said.
Dana Boente, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was named as the acting U.S. Attorney and will succeed Letten. The Department of Justice will determine who will assume the role on a more permanent basis.
Letten was one of only a few holdover U.S. attorneys from the administration of former President George W. Bush, and was the longest serving in that position.
The move comes after multiple scandals rocked the New Orleans office. Two prosecutors who work under Letten, including his former top deputy, posted defamatory comments on a news website under alias names.
The remarks involved targets and defendants in open criminal cases.
