Richard Ben-Veniste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Ben-Veniste
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| Born | January 3, 1943 |
| Education | A.B. (1964), LL.B. (1967), LL.M. (1968) |
| Alma mater | Muhlenberg College, Columbia Law School, Northwestern University School of Law |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Employer | Mayer Brown LLP |
| Known for | Watergate prosecutor; Senate Whitewater Committee Chief Counsel (Minority); member, 9/11 Commission |
| Title | Partner |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Awards | The Best Lawyers in America, 1983-2010. Washingtonian Magazine's Top Lawyers in Washington, DC, 1992-2010. LL.D. (honorary), Muhlenberg College, 1975. |
Richard Ben-Veniste (born January 3, 1943) is an American lawyer. He is known for his work as a special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal. He also served as a member of the 9/11 Commission. Ben-Veniste is recognized for asking tough questions to important people in government. Since 2017, he has worked as a legal expert for CNN.
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Early Life and Education
Richard Ben-Veniste was born into a Jewish family. His father's family came from the Levant region, and his mother's family had roots in Russia and Germany.
He attended Stuyvesant High School in New York City, graduating in 1960. He then earned a bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania in 1964. He continued his studies, getting a law degree from Columbia Law School in New York City in 1967. He later earned another law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago in 1968.
Legal Career Highlights
Ben-Veniste began his legal career as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York from 1968 to 1973. He led the Special Prosecutions section during this time.
Watergate Investigation
From 1973 to 1975, he became a key prosecutor in the Watergate scandal. This was a major political scandal in the 1970s involving the U.S. President's administration. Ben-Veniste led the Watergate Task Force, helping to investigate the events.
Whitewater Committee Role
Later, from 1995 to 1996, he served as the chief lawyer for the Democrats on the Senate Whitewater Committee. This committee looked into various claims about former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton. Ben-Veniste argued that the Clintons did not break any laws regarding their investments or business dealings.
Nazi War Crimes Group
In 2000, Ben-Veniste was appointed to a special group called the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group. This group helped to make millions of secret documents public. These documents were about war crimes during and after World War II.
Work on the 9/11 Commission
In 2002, Richard Ben-Veniste became a member of the 9/11 Commission. This commission was formed to investigate the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11, 2001.
He was known for asking tough questions and pushing for access to important documents. His questioning of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was particularly notable. This led to the release of a secret document from August 6, 2001, titled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." The commission's findings were published in 9/11 Commission Report in 2004.
Ben-Veniste worked at several law firms throughout his career. He was a partner at Mayer Brown LLP from 2002 until January 2023.
Published Works
Richard Ben-Veniste has also written books about his experiences:
