Dana Boente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dana Boente
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| General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
| In office January 23, 2018 – June 30, 2020 |
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| Director | Christopher A. Wray |
| Preceded by | James Baker |
| Succeeded by | Jason A. Jones |
| United States Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division | |
| Acting April 28, 2017 – February 22, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Mary B. McCord (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Demers |
| United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
| In office September 23, 2013 – January 28, 2018 Acting: September 23, 2013 – December 15, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Neil MacBride |
| Succeeded by | G. Zachary Terwilliger |
| In office October 2008 – September 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Chuck Rosenberg |
| Succeeded by | Neil MacBride |
| United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana | |
| In office December 2012 – September 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jim Letten |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Polite |
| United States Deputy Attorney General | |
| Acting February 9, 2017 – April 26, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Sally Yates |
| Succeeded by | Rod Rosenstein |
| United States Attorney General | |
| Acting January 30, 2017 – February 9, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Channing D. Phillips (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Sessions |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dana James Boente
February 7, 1954 Carlinville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Saint Louis University (BS, MBA, JD) |
Dana James Boente (born February 7, 1954) is an American lawyer who held important jobs in the U.S. government. From January 2018 to June 2020, he was the main lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He also served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from September 2013 to January 2018. For a short time, from January to February 2017, he was the acting United States Attorney General, which is the top lawyer for the whole country. He also worked as an acting assistant attorney general for the National Security Division, which deals with national security matters.
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Early Life and Education
Boente was born in Carlinville, Illinois in 1954. He went to Saint Louis University. He earned a degree in business in 1976 and a Master's degree in business in 1977. Later, he studied law at the Saint Louis University School of Law and became a lawyer in 1982.
Career Highlights
Starting His Legal Journey
In 1982, Boente began his career working for a judge in Illinois. In 1984, he joined the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. This division handles legal cases related to taxes. In 2001, he became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Virginia, working on cases involving fraud.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In December 2012, President Barack Obama chose Boente to be the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. This is a very important job where he was the chief federal prosecutor for that area. He held this position until September 2013. He then served as the acting U.S. Attorney for a period.
During his time, he was involved in a well-known case involving the former governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell. Boente stated, "No one is above the law... not a high public official, not even the highest public official [in Virginia]." The United States Supreme Court later looked at the case and decided that the instructions given to the jury were too broad. The Justice Department then decided not to continue with the case.
Boente was officially confirmed by the United States Senate as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in December 2015. In March 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked many U.S. Attorneys to resign, but President Donald Trump decided that Boente should stay.
Acting Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General
On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Boente as the acting United States Attorney General. This happened after the previous acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, was dismissed. Boente served in this top role for a short time.
When Jeff Sessions was confirmed as the Attorney General on February 9, 2017, Boente then became the acting United States Deputy Attorney General. This is the second-highest position in the Justice Department.
Because Attorney General Sessions stepped aside from matters related to presidential campaigns, Boente was given the responsibility to handle those issues until a permanent Deputy Attorney General was confirmed.
Later Roles and Resignation
On October 27, 2017, Boente announced that he planned to leave his roles as U.S. Attorney and acting assistant attorney general for the National Security Division. He stayed until his replacement was confirmed.
On January 23, 2018, Boente was named the general counsel (main lawyer) for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by Director Christopher A. Wray. He held this important position until May 29, 2020, when he resigned from the FBI. His resignation became effective on June 30, 2020.
Personal Life
Dana Boente has lived in Northern Virginia since 1984.
See also
In Spanish: Dana J. Boente para niños
