January 11, 2005
Bush names Judge Michael Chertoff to Homeland Security Secretary
Judge Michael Chertoff, the man who headed the Senate's Whitewater investigation has been tapped to head up the Department of Homeland Security.
Chertoff will replace the original choice of the White House, Bernard Kerik, who withdrew his name last month amid the emergence of his having employed an illegal alien as a nanny.
Chertoff has an extensive background in prosecuting terrorism-related cases, and in working with the FBI.
He was the head of the Justice Department's criminal division from 2001 to 2003 until made an appeals court judge in 2003. As the administration's top anti-terrorism prosecutor during that time, he dealt with how to handle illegal immigrations involved in possible terrorism cases, and was involved in prosecuting such high-profile cases as that of Zacarias Moussaoui.Chertoff has to be confirmed by the US Senate prior to taking office. Posted by mhking at January 11, 2005 10:15 AMChertoff has also worked on combatting cybercrime and was a member of former Attorney General Janet Reno's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys. He earned his law degree from Harvard University.
During more than 10 years as a federal prosecutor in Newark and Manhattan, Chertoff pursued political corruption, health care fraud, bank fraud and savings-and-loan fraud.