Michael A. Battle
Encyclopedia
For the theologian and academic see Michael J. Battle.
Michael A. Battle was the Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) at the United States Department of Justice
until he resigned, effective March 16, 2007. He was the person who informed seven United States Attorney
s on December 7, 2006 that they were being dismissed (see Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
).
. From 1985 to 1992, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Buffalo, New York
, where he served in the General Criminal Division, the Civil Division, and on the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Following his admission to the New York
bar, he worked as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society Civil Division. In 1992, he helped to establish the Rochester
and Buffalo Federal Public Defender's Offices, where he served until 1995. In June 1996, he was appointed by Governor
George Pataki
to serve as a judge on the Erie County (New York) Family Court and was elected the following November to a full 10-year term. From 1995 to 1996, he served as Assistant in Charge of the Buffalo office of the New York State Attorney General.
From January 2002 to May 2005 Battle served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York
.
from Canada on September the 12th 2001. The FBI concluded Benatta was innocent that November however according to federal Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr, Battle then conspired with the FBI and immigration agents in a "sham" to make it appear that Benatta was being held for immigration violations.
In October 2003, when Battle announced he was dropping charges, a Buffalo reporter asked whether he planned to apologize to Benatta, Battle responded "I'm not going to address that." Benamar Benatta was finally released in 2006 after 5 years, despite being cleared in November 2001.
According to Judge Schroeder who was assigned to investigate Benatta's treatment, "Prosecutors trampled on legal deadlines intended to protect his constitutional rights and later offered explanations for their manoeuvres that bordered on ridiculousness," he found that the government compounded its mistakes by failing to act once it was clear that Benatta was not an accomplice to terrorists. A United Nations working group later described the treatment of Benatta as torture. Battle was then promoted by the White House. The Los Angeles Times
reported that Benatta had been held for a total of 1,780 days, holding the distinction of being held without charge longer than any other suspect in the US.
(EOUSA) at the United States Department of Justice
on June 6, 2005. He was involved the Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
, as he was the Justice Department official who, on December 7, 2006, informed seven US Attorneys that they were being dismissed. Just as publicity was heating up, and Congressional inquiries began, he resigned on March 5, 2007, effective March 16.
Michael A. Battle was the Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) at the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
until he resigned, effective March 16, 2007. He was the person who informed seven United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
s on December 7, 2006 that they were being dismissed (see Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
The dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy was initiated by the unprecedented midterm dismissal of seven United States Attorneys on December 7, 2006 by the George W. Bush administration's Department of Justice. Congressional investigations focused on whether the Department of Justice and the White...
).
Early career
Battle is a 1981 graduate of University at Buffalo Law SchoolUniversity at Buffalo Law School
The University at Buffalo Law School, the State University of New York is a graduate professional school at the University at Buffalo. It is part of the State University of New York system and is the SUNY system's only law school. U.S...
. From 1985 to 1992, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he served in the General Criminal Division, the Civil Division, and on the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Following his admission to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
bar, he worked as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society Civil Division. In 1992, he helped to establish the Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and Buffalo Federal Public Defender's Offices, where he served until 1995. In June 1996, he was appointed by Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
to serve as a judge on the Erie County (New York) Family Court and was elected the following November to a full 10-year term. From 1995 to 1996, he served as Assistant in Charge of the Buffalo office of the New York State Attorney General.
From January 2002 to May 2005 Battle served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
The United States District Court for the Western District of New York is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises only a part of New York....
.
Involvement in the internment of Benamar Benatta
During his time as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, he was responsible for the case of Benamar Benatta. Benatta was held without trial for five years following his forcible renditionRendition
Rendition may refer to:*Rendition , a legal term meaning "handing over"*Extraordinary rendition by the United States, the abduction and illegal transfer of a person from one nation to another*"Rendition" , an episode of Torchwood...
from Canada on September the 12th 2001. The FBI concluded Benatta was innocent that November however according to federal Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr, Battle then conspired with the FBI and immigration agents in a "sham" to make it appear that Benatta was being held for immigration violations.
In October 2003, when Battle announced he was dropping charges, a Buffalo reporter asked whether he planned to apologize to Benatta, Battle responded "I'm not going to address that." Benamar Benatta was finally released in 2006 after 5 years, despite being cleared in November 2001.
According to Judge Schroeder who was assigned to investigate Benatta's treatment, "Prosecutors trampled on legal deadlines intended to protect his constitutional rights and later offered explanations for their manoeuvres that bordered on ridiculousness," he found that the government compounded its mistakes by failing to act once it was clear that Benatta was not an accomplice to terrorists. A United Nations working group later described the treatment of Benatta as torture. Battle was then promoted by the White House. The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that Benatta had been held for a total of 1,780 days, holding the distinction of being held without charge longer than any other suspect in the US.
Executive Office for the United States Attorneys
Battle began his service as Director of the Executive Office for United States AttorneysUnited States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
(EOUSA) at the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
on June 6, 2005. He was involved the Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
The dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy was initiated by the unprecedented midterm dismissal of seven United States Attorneys on December 7, 2006 by the George W. Bush administration's Department of Justice. Congressional investigations focused on whether the Department of Justice and the White...
, as he was the Justice Department official who, on December 7, 2006, informed seven US Attorneys that they were being dismissed. Just as publicity was heating up, and Congressional inquiries began, he resigned on March 5, 2007, effective March 16.