Jim Letten

James B. Letten (born September 12, 1953) is an American attorney. A career prosecutor, Letten served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana for more than eleven years. By the time Letten resigned as U.S. Attorney in December 2012, he was the longest-serving U.S. Attorney in the country.

After stepping down, Letten joined Tulane University Law School as an assistant dean. Letten later became of counsel with the firm of Butler Snow, while retaining his post at Tulane.

Early life and education Letten was born at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans on September 12, 1953. He is the only son of Alden and Dorothy "Dot" Letten; his father was a steel fabricator.

Career Letten worked for Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. for four years. Letten also prosecuted former state representative David Duke.

U.S. Attorney Letten is a Republican, having been appointed to the U.S. Attorney's position by President George W. Bush. Nonetheless, when Republicans lost the Presidency to Democrat Barack Obama in 2008, many Democrats, including U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, took the unusual step of urging the new President to reappoint Letten.

As U.S. Attorney, Letten became known for his "successful prosecutions of public officials," ranging from corrupt elected officials to corrupt judges, police officers, and school officials. The New York Times described him as "a popular crusader against the crooked traditions of Louisiana public servants." These successes gained Letten bipartisan support, including from both Louisiana's U.S. Senators, Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republican David Vitter.

After being retained in office by President Obama, Letten pursued a number of federal civil rights investigations into the New Orleans Police Department, a priority of the Obama administration's Department of Justice. fellow activists who accompanied O'Keefe also faced prosecution.

In December 2012, Letten resigned as U.S. Attorney, following revelations that senior prosecutors in Letten's office had made "provocative, even pugnacious comments about active criminal matters and other subjects under aliases at nola.com, the Web site of The Times-Picayune newspaper."

In November 2015, Letten joined the New Orleans office of the law firm Butler Snow LLP as of counsel. Letten works with the firm's investigations and white-collar crimes group. He continues to simultaneously serve as Tulane assistant dean.

Naval service Letten served in the United States Naval Reserve for two decades and retired as a commander. Letten was a naval intelligence officer, with roles including (among others) counter-intelligence and intelligence analysis. He spent more than twelve years as a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent.