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| U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. to step down April 1, citing long tenure | U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. to step down April 1, citing long tenure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. will step down effective April 1 and return to private practice, he announced Monday morning, ending his tenure as the longest-serving chief federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia in nearly four decades. | U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. will step down effective April 1 and return to private practice, he announced Monday morning, ending his tenure as the longest-serving chief federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia in nearly four decades. |
| The Justice Department named Machen’s top assistant, Vincent H. Cohen Jr., as acting U.S. attorney. | The Justice Department named Machen’s top assistant, Vincent H. Cohen Jr., as acting U.S. attorney. |
| In a written statement, U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder warmly praised Machen’s “consummate judgment” and outstanding results in violent crime, national security and public corruption prosecutions. | In a written statement, U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder warmly praised Machen’s “consummate judgment” and outstanding results in violent crime, national security and public corruption prosecutions. |
| Machen’s tenure has been defined largely by his office’s prosecution of corruption cases involving District politics. But the biggest target, former mayor Vincent C. Gray, has not been charged after a years-long investigation that has led to multiple convictions against former campaign aides. | Machen’s tenure has been defined largely by his office’s prosecution of corruption cases involving District politics. But the biggest target, former mayor Vincent C. Gray, has not been charged after a years-long investigation that has led to multiple convictions against former campaign aides. |
| [The investigation of Vincent Gray] | [The investigation of Vincent Gray] |
| Machen has stood before television cameras, insisting that Gray’s 2010 mayoral campaign was corrupt, and prosecutors publicly accused Gray of having knowledge of the wrongdoing. | Machen has stood before television cameras, insisting that Gray’s 2010 mayoral campaign was corrupt, and prosecutors publicly accused Gray of having knowledge of the wrongdoing. |
| Unless Gray is charged in the next two weeks, Machen will leave office with the case unresolved. | Unless Gray is charged in the next two weeks, Machen will leave office with the case unresolved. |
| Machen made no mention of the Gray investigation in his announcement, but has told associates in the office — the largest U.S. attorney’s office in the country with more than 300 attorneys — that the inquiry is bigger than any single person. Colleagues said they expected little disruption in the case because Cohen has served as Machen’s point-person in coordinating the investigation. | Machen made no mention of the Gray investigation in his announcement, but has told associates in the office — the largest U.S. attorney’s office in the country with more than 300 attorneys — that the inquiry is bigger than any single person. Colleagues said they expected little disruption in the case because Cohen has served as Machen’s point-person in coordinating the investigation. |
| “After more than five years as United States Attorney, it is time for me to step down,” Machen said in a statement released after he met with senior staff earlier Monday. “I am proud of the work we have done together to achieve justice in the courthouse and to build bonds of trust with the community that we serve.” | “After more than five years as United States Attorney, it is time for me to step down,” Machen said in a statement released after he met with senior staff earlier Monday. “I am proud of the work we have done together to achieve justice in the courthouse and to build bonds of trust with the community that we serve.” |
| Machen’s move coincides with Holder’s expected departure this week, pending Senate confirmation of his successor, attorney general nominee Loretta B. Lynch. Associates said Machen’s decision was unrelated. Indeed, as early as 2012, Machen has denied rumors that he had expressed interest in returning to private practice. | Machen’s move coincides with Holder’s expected departure this week, pending Senate confirmation of his successor, attorney general nominee Loretta B. Lynch. Associates said Machen’s decision was unrelated. Indeed, as early as 2012, Machen has denied rumors that he had expressed interest in returning to private practice. |
| “Ron has never been deterred by a difficult challenge, nor slowed in his pursuit of a safer, stronger Washington,” said Holder, a longtime mentor who was the District’s U.S. attorney who first hired Machen into the office in 1997. “I see in him now the exceptional qualities that I saw in him then: unassailable integrity, relentless determination, and a passion for law and justice. | “Ron has never been deterred by a difficult challenge, nor slowed in his pursuit of a safer, stronger Washington,” said Holder, a longtime mentor who was the District’s U.S. attorney who first hired Machen into the office in 1997. “I see in him now the exceptional qualities that I saw in him then: unassailable integrity, relentless determination, and a passion for law and justice. |
| Machen, 45, was nominated by President Obama and sworn in in February 2010. He surprised some by staying on for a second term. By April, Machen will have served longer as U.S. attorney in the District than anyone since 1979, when Earl J. Silbert, one of the original prosecutors of the Watergate scandal, stepped down. | Machen, 45, was nominated by President Obama and sworn in in February 2010. He surprised some by staying on for a second term. By April, Machen will have served longer as U.S. attorney in the District than anyone since 1979, when Earl J. Silbert, one of the original prosecutors of the Watergate scandal, stepped down. |
| Machen played wide receiver as a walk-on at Stanford University. Upon graduation, he contemplated going on scholarship to the University of Michigan’s law school. But his father told him not to settle for the prestigious Big Ten university, and he went to Harvard instead. | Machen played wide receiver as a walk-on at Stanford University. Upon graduation, he contemplated going on scholarship to the University of Michigan’s law school. But his father told him not to settle for the prestigious Big Ten university, and he went to Harvard instead. |
| Machen worked from 1997 to 2001 as a federal prosecutor in the District, the only federal office that prosecutes local as well as federal crimes. He joined and made partner at the law firm now called WilmerHale, donating more than $4,000 to Obama’s campaigns and helping vet potential vice presidential candidates in 2008. | Machen worked from 1997 to 2001 as a federal prosecutor in the District, the only federal office that prosecutes local as well as federal crimes. He joined and made partner at the law firm now called WilmerHale, donating more than $4,000 to Obama’s campaigns and helping vet potential vice presidential candidates in 2008. |
| One of Machen’s biggest cases in U.S. Superior Court was the 2010 conviction of Ingmar Guandique in the death of federal intern Chandra Levy. That case is being heard on appeal. | |
| Machen also oversaw the convictions of the five men charged with the 2010 South Capitol Street shootings that left four people dead and six others injured. Six men were convicted in those shootings. | Machen also oversaw the convictions of the five men charged with the 2010 South Capitol Street shootings that left four people dead and six others injured. Six men were convicted in those shootings. |
| Most recently, he oversaw the plea deal of Modern Orthodox rabbi Barry Freundel who pleaded guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism last month. Freundel was charged with secretly videotaping dozens of nude women as they prepared for a ritual bath. | Most recently, he oversaw the plea deal of Modern Orthodox rabbi Barry Freundel who pleaded guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism last month. Freundel was charged with secretly videotaping dozens of nude women as they prepared for a ritual bath. |
| Read more: Issue of race looms over Machen’s crackdown ‘Challenges and obstacles’ delaying Gray probe, Machen Jr. says Machen indicates careful approach to D.C. marijuana cases | Read more: Issue of race looms over Machen’s crackdown ‘Challenges and obstacles’ delaying Gray probe, Machen Jr. says Machen indicates careful approach to D.C. marijuana cases |