Larry Thompson
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Larry Thompson was a deputy Attorney General of the United States under United States President George W. Bush until August of 2003. The New York Times describes him as "a moderate" who is "respected by both Democrats and Republicans." While Deputy Attorney General, he led anti-terrorism efforts and efforts to punish white-collar crime. Among other accomplishments, he oversaw prosecutions against officials at Enron.
Thompson left the post to serve as the general counsel at Pepsico in Purchase, New York. Thomson is also a visiting professor at the University of Georgia law school, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Thompson was previously the director of the Providian Financial Corporation, during the time when Providian paid over $400 million to settle charges of consumer and securities fraud. Thomposn made at least one million dollars in the sale of Providian stock prior to the allegations. In 2002, Judicial Watch filed suit against Thomson for artificially inflating the stock price in order to illegally increase his earnings in the sale of stock. Thompson has denied any wrongdoing.
Thompson was named in the press as the leading candidate for Attorney General after John Ashcroft leaves the post. Ashcroft resigned on November 9, 2004. Thomson, if selected, would have been the first African-American ever to head the Justice Department. Instead, Alberto Gonzales was selected as Ashcroft's replacement.
External links
- Top DOJ Official Stepping Down (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/11/national/main567619.shtml) - article on CBS News
- "Ashcroft Quits Top Justice Post; Evans Going, Too" (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/10/politics/10cabinet.html?ex=1257742800&en=40ed98ea67bc854e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland) - Article in the New York Times