Larry Thompson
Encyclopedia
Larry Dean Thompson is an American lawyer, most notable for his service as deputy Attorney General of the United States
under United States President
George W. Bush
until August 2003. While Deputy Attorney General he signed a memo in 2002 denying deportation of Canadian citizen Maher Arar
to Canada ultimately leading to his deportation to Syria where he faced torture. Among other accomplishments, he oversaw prosecutions against officials at Enron
.
. He received his bachelor's degree
, cum laude, from Culver-Stockton College
in 1967, his master's degree
from Michigan State University
in 1969, and his Juris Doctor
(J.D.) from the University of Michigan
in 1974.
In 1970, Thompson married Brenda Anne Taggart. They have two sons.
during law school. After graduation he worked at an attorney for Monsanto Company in St. Louis until 1977. That year he joined the law firm of King & Spalding
in Atlanta, Georgia
. He left the firm in 1982 for four years as U.S. attorney for the northern District of Georgia; however, he returned and was made a partner in 1986. He left King & Spalding in 2001 to return to the Justice Department as Deputy Attorney General.
Thompson was a director of the Providian Financial Corporation, during the time when Providian paid over $400 million to settle charges of consumer and securities fraud
. Thompson made $4.7 million dollars in the sale of Providian stock prior to the allegations. In 2002, Judicial Watch
filed suit against Thompson for allegedly artificially inflating the stock price in order to illegally increase his earnings in the sale of stock. Thompson has denied any wrongdoing.
Housing and Urban Development Investigation from 1995 to 1998, completing the investigation and prosecution started by Judge Arlin M. Adams
in 1990.
by President Bush.
for a year before accepting the position of senior vice-president for government affairs and general counsel at Pepsico
in Purchase, New York
. Thompson is also the John A. Sibley Professor in Corporate and Business Law at the University of Georgia
law school. Thompson has also taught at Georgia State University
College of Law.
Thompson was named in the press as a leading candidate for Attorney General after John Ashcroft
resigned on November 9, 2004. Thompson, if selected, would have been the first African-American ever to head the Justice Department
. Instead, Alberto Gonzales
was selected as Ashcroft's replacement. Later, Thompson's name was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
. With the resignation of Gonzales in August 2007, Thompson's name again surfaced a candidate for Attorney General. He supported former New York
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
in the 2008 presidential election
, and the American Bar Association mentioned Thompson again as a possible Attorney General or Supreme Court justice during a potential John McCain
administration.
United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
under United States President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
until August 2003. While Deputy Attorney General he signed a memo in 2002 denying deportation of Canadian citizen Maher Arar
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
to Canada ultimately leading to his deportation to Syria where he faced torture. Among other accomplishments, he oversaw prosecutions against officials at Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
.
Early life and education
Thompson is the son of a railroad laborer from Hannibal, MissouriHannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, cum laude, from Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College is a private, residential, four-year, liberal arts college located in Canton, Missouri. Culver-Stockton College offers a liberal arts education with practical learning experiences. The campus is located on on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Culver-Stockton...
in 1967, his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1969, and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1974.
In 1970, Thompson married Brenda Anne Taggart. They have two sons.
Corporate career
Thompson worked as an industrial relations representative for Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
during law school. After graduation he worked at an attorney for Monsanto Company in St. Louis until 1977. That year he joined the law firm of King & Spalding
King & Spalding
King & Spalding LLP is an American law firm with 125 years of service. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1885 by Alexander C. King and Jack Spalding. The firm has expanded nationally, with offices in Austin, Charlotte, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He left the firm in 1982 for four years as U.S. attorney for the northern District of Georgia; however, he returned and was made a partner in 1986. He left King & Spalding in 2001 to return to the Justice Department as Deputy Attorney General.
Thompson was a director of the Providian Financial Corporation, during the time when Providian paid over $400 million to settle charges of consumer and securities fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
. Thompson made $4.7 million dollars in the sale of Providian stock prior to the allegations. In 2002, Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch is an organization that describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law." According to its mission statement, Judicial Watch "advocates high standards of...
filed suit against Thompson for allegedly artificially inflating the stock price in order to illegally increase his earnings in the sale of stock. Thompson has denied any wrongdoing.
Department of Justice
From 1982 to 1986, he served as U.S. attorney for the northern District of Georgia, and led the Southeastern Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The New York Times describes him as "a moderate" who is "respected by both Democrats and Republicans."Independent Counsel
Mr. Thompson served as Independent Counsel for the Department ofHousing and Urban Development Investigation from 1995 to 1998, completing the investigation and prosecution started by Judge Arlin M. Adams
Arlin M. Adams
Arlin Marvin Adams is a retired senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is currently of counsel to Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP.- Early life and education :...
in 1990.
Deputy U.S. Attorney General
In 2001, Thompson was appointed as Deputy U.S. Attorney GeneralUnited States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
by President Bush.
Maher Arar
Thompson was responsible for signing a deportation memo that sent Canadian citizen Maher Arar to Syria where he was tortured. Thompson signed that memo despite an immigration panel's decision that Arar would be tortured there, a clear breach of international laws prohibiting torture. The Canadian government has since apologized for its conduct in the matter and paid millions to Arar. Arar's attempts to get justice in the U.S. have been opposed on 'state secrets' grounds by both the Bush and Obama administrations, and was recently dismissed on those grounds by the 2nd Circuit Appeals Court.Thompson Memorandum
In January 2003 Thompson issued an internal Justice Department document informally titled the Thompson Memorandum written to help federal prosecutors decide whether to charge a corporation, rather than or in addition to individuals within the corporation, with criminal offenses. The guidelines were considered tough because they require that to claim cooperation, companies must (1) turn over materials from internal investigations, (2) waive attorney-client privilege, and (3) not provide targeted executive with company-paid lawyers. The guidelines were criticized for, among other things, "seriously eroding" attorney-client privilege. These guidelines were "eased" in December 2006 by Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty who issued a revised version of the memorandum.Career after the Department of Justice
In August 2003 Thompson left the Justice Department and was a senior fellow at the Brookings InstitutionBrookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
for a year before accepting the position of senior vice-president for government affairs and general counsel at Pepsico
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
in Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
. Thompson is also the John A. Sibley Professor in Corporate and Business Law at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
law school. Thompson has also taught at Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
College of Law.
Thompson was named in the press as a leading candidate for Attorney General after John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
resigned on November 9, 2004. Thompson, if selected, would have been the first African-American ever to head the Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. Instead, Alberto Gonzales
Alberto Gonzales
Alberto R. Gonzales was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. Gonzales was appointed to the post in February 2005 by President George W. Bush. Gonzales was the first Hispanic Attorney General in U.S. history and the highest-ranking Hispanic government official ever...
was selected as Ashcroft's replacement. Later, Thompson's name was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
. With the resignation of Gonzales in August 2007, Thompson's name again surfaced a candidate for Attorney General. He supported former New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
in the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, and the American Bar Association mentioned Thompson again as a possible Attorney General or Supreme Court justice during a potential John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
administration.