Bosses : Meet the Judge Who Could Become the First Latino in History to Run the FBI
As the world reels from President Trump’s abrupt Friday dismissal of former FBI director James Comey, another kind of history could be in the making. Among the candidates to fill the vacant spot is Michael J. Garcia, a New York judge, who if appointed, would be the first Latino in history to run the FBI. NBC reports:
Garcia currently serves as an associate judge on the New York State Court of Appeals. He is best known for his role in exposing corruption. As U.S. Attorney, he oversaw an investigation into a prostitution ring that led to the resignation of then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Garcia was later tapped to lead an inquiry into alleged corruption surrounding the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Garcia’s report helped lead to a criminal investigation of FIFA by the U.S. and Switzerland.
Politico notes:
Garcia is among the candidates winning support from normally taciturn FBI insiders even though he never worked for the famously insular bureau.
His close FBI ties came as a federal counterterrorism prosecutor in New York, when he spent much of the late 1990s traveling the world with agents pursuing Al Qaeda suspects, including the man who later masterminded the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
Additionally, Judge Garcia grew up in Queens and Long Island, studied English at SUNY Binghamton as well as William and Mary College, and obtained a law degree from Albany Law School. He has held a number of distinguished roles, working as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Acting Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and as a Partner at Kirkland and Ellis.
