Matthew Michael Graves (born 1975)[1] is an American lawyer who has served as the United States attorney for the District of Columbia since 2021.
Matthew Graves | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Attorney for the District of Columbia | |
| Assumed office November 5, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Channing D. Phillips (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Michael Graves 1975 (age 48–49) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Washington and Lee University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Early life and education
editGraves was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University in 1998 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2001.[2]
Career
editAfter graduating law school, Graves began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Richard W. Roberts of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. From 2002 to 2007, he was an associate at WilmerHale. From 2007 to 2016, Graves worked as an assistant United States attorney in the District of Columbia, where he served in the office's fraud and public corruption section, ultimately serving as the acting chief of the section. From 2016 to 2022, he was a partner at DLA Piper.[2]
At DLA Piper, Graves represented Qatar and foreign banks accused of financing terrorism, including Bank of Palestine, Arab Bank PLC, and Bank of Beirut.[3][4] Politico reported in 2021 that Graves also represented Gazprom Neft, "a Russian state-owned energy company with a market cap north of $30 billion."[5]
United States attorney for the District of Columbia
editGraves was recommended as U.S. attorney by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.[6] On July 26, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Graves to serve in the role.[7] On September 23, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.[8] On October 28, 2021, his nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate.[9] On November 5, 2021, he was sworn into office by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell.[10]
On May 16, 2023, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced that she planned to introduce articles of impeachment against Graves for his prosecution of participants in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[11]
Under Graves, the US Attorney's Office declined to prosecute 67% of those arrested for crimes in DC in 2022, including 72% of misdemeanor arrests and 53% of felony arrests.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ a b "President Biden Announces Eight Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Swan, Betsy Woodruff (2021-11-15). "D.C.'s new top cop vs. Steve Bannon". POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ Kaminsky, Gabe (2024-01-17). "Top Biden DOJ prosecutor represented Qatar and foreign banks accused of financing terrorism". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ Swan, Betsy Woodruff (2021-11-15). "D.C.'s new top cop vs. Steve Bannon". POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ Bonessi, Dominique Maria; Kurzius, Rachel (July 26, 2021). "Biden Announces Nominees For US Attorney In DC, Maryland". DCist. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 23, 2021" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "PN925 - Nomination of Matthew M. Graves for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ "Matthew M. Graves Takes Office as United States Attorney". www.justice.gov. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
- ^ "Marjorie Taylor Greene Wants To Impeach The U.S. Attorney For D.C. Now". UPROXX. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ "More Than Two-Thirds of the People Arrested in D.C. Are Never Charged". Washington City Paper. March 15, 2023.
- ^ "D.C. U.S. attorney declined to prosecute 67% of those arrested. Here's why". The Washington Post. March 29, 2023.
