Loretta Lynch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loretta Lynch
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Official portrait, 2015
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| 83rd United States Attorney General | |
| In office April 27, 2015 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Sally Yates |
| Preceded by | Eric Holder |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Sessions |
| United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office May 8, 2010 – April 27, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Benton J. Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Robert Capers |
| In office June 2, 1999 – May 2, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Zachary W. Carter |
| Succeeded by | Roslynn R. Mauskopf |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch
May 21, 1959 Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Stephen Hargrove
(m. 2007) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch (born May 21, 1959) is an American lawyer. She served as the 83rd attorney general of the United States from 2015 to 2017. She was chosen by President Barack Obama. Before this, she was the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York. She held this role under Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama. As a U.S. attorney, Lynch oversaw federal legal cases in areas like Brooklyn and Long Island.
Lynch is a graduate of Harvard Law School. She worked as a lawyer in New York. In 1990, she became a federal prosecutor. She rose to lead the Eastern District office. Later, she worked in private law. She then returned to be the top district prosecutor again. From 2003 to 2005, she was on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In November 2014, President Obama nominated her for Attorney General. This is the chief law enforcement officer of the U.S. In April 2015, the Senate approved her appointment. She became the first African-American woman to hold this important job. Her time as Attorney General ended in January 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Loretta Lynch was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. Her mother was a school librarian. Her father was a Baptist minister. Both of her parents went to Shaw University. This university is known for its history.
As a child, Loretta loved watching court cases. She would spend hours with her father at the courthouse. Her interest grew from stories about her grandfather. He was a pastor who helped people move north. This was to escape unfair laws in the 1930s.
Lynch studied English and American literature. She earned her degree from Harvard College in 1981. She then went to Harvard Law School. She earned her law degree in 1984. While there, she was part of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. She also joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In 2017, Duke University gave her an honorary degree.
Law Career and Public Service
Lynch's first job in law was in New York City. She worked for a law firm called Cahill Gordon & Reindel. In 1990, she joined the U.S. Attorney's office. She became a federal prosecutor there.
From 1994 to 1998, she led the Long Island office. She worked on cases involving political issues. From 1998 to 1999, she was a chief assistant U.S. Attorney. She headed the Brooklyn office during this time.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton chose her. She became the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. During her time, she oversaw important cases. These included investigations involving New York City police officers.
In 2001, Lynch left the U.S. Attorney's office. She became a partner at a law firm. She stayed there until 2010. Then, President Barack Obama asked her to return. She again served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Her office handled many significant cases. She oversaw the investigation into senior FIFA officials. This led to charges against 14 officials. This work helped lead to the resignation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter. For her efforts, she received a special award.
In December 2020, Lynch was hired by the National Football League. She helped investigate claims of misconduct. These claims were against the owners of the Washington Football Team. In October 2024, she represented the drone company DJI. She filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense. This was to remove the company from a list.
Attorney General of the United States
Becoming Attorney General
On November 8, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Loretta Lynch. He chose her to be the next U.S. Attorney General. She would replace Eric Holder. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her in February 2015.
On April 23, 2015, the Senate voted to confirm her. The vote was 56 to 43. This made her the first African-American woman to hold the office. She was also the second African-American and second woman to be Attorney General. Her nomination process took 166 days. This was one of the longest in U.S. history. Vice President Joe Biden swore her in on April 27, 2015.
Key Actions as Attorney General
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In July 2015, after a shooting in Charleston, Lynch took action. She announced that the suspected shooter would be charged with a hate crime.
In December 2015, Lynch stated that the Justice Department would investigate the Chicago Police Department. This was to see if there were civil rights violations.
In March 2016, Lynch spoke about the occupation of a wildlife refuge. She said charges would be filed against those involved.
Lynch also focused on helping people who had been in prison. She worked to raise awareness about their return to society. She wrote articles and made public appearances.
In June 2016, after a shooting in Orlando, Lynch appeared on TV. She talked about the FBI's investigation. She also traveled to Orlando to meet survivors. She brought emergency funding to help with investigation costs.
In October 2016, Lynch made a notable decision. She removed local FBI agents from a specific case. This was a case involving the death of Eric Garner. She replaced them with agents from outside New York. This was considered an unusual step.
Hillary Clinton Email Inquiry
In 2016, there was an inquiry into Hillary Clinton's emails. Loretta Lynch was involved in this. In June 2016, Lynch met with former President Bill Clinton. This meeting happened on her plane in Phoenix. Lynch later said they talked about personal topics. She said it was not about the email inquiry. She also said she understood why the meeting caused "questions and concerns." She stated she "certainly wouldn't do it again."
FBI Director James Comey later testified about this. He said Lynch had asked him not to call it an "investigation." Instead, she wanted him to call it a "matter." He also said the meeting with Bill Clinton was a "deciding factor." This led him to make his own public announcement about the inquiry.
In June 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee started an investigation. They looked into whether Lynch tried to interfere with the email inquiry. Lynch said she would cooperate. She denied giving any assurances to limit the inquiry. A report in June 2018 called her meeting with Bill Clinton an "error of judgment." However, it found no political bias.
Personal Life
Loretta Lynch married Stephen Hargrove in 2007. She uses her married name, Loretta Lynch Hargrove, in her personal life. Her husband has two children from a previous marriage.
See also
In Spanish: Loretta Lynch para niños
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- List of female United States Cabinet members
