Thomas P. O’Brien
Encyclopedia
Thomas Peter O'Brien is a white collar criminal defense attorney at the Los Angeles
law office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
. He was the United States Attorney for the Central District of California from October 2007 to September 2009.
in 1981 where he earned his bachelor's degree, and from the University of San Diego School of Law
in 1993, where he was an Associate Editor of the San Diego Law Review and received his degree with honors. He accumulated 2,000 flight hours as a Radar Intercept Officer in the F-14 fighter aircraft, and is a graduate of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School.
for more than five years. Before becoming United States Attorney, O’Brien served as Chief of the Criminal Division in the United States Attorney’s Office. He is currently a litigation Partner, where he focuses his practice on white collar defense and representing clients in federal investigations, at the Los Angeles law office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.
of public officials, elected officials, and other governmental regulators. O'Brien explained that the unit's 17 lawyers would be farmed out to other sections in the office.
to take action. With the grand jury's inquiry came the possibility that Mahony would be held responsible for the many molestations that occurred by members of the clergy who the cardinal had reason to suspect were pedophiles. O'Brien was responsible for bringing the suit to light. There's a possibility that the "let's-move-on attitude might have gained traction were it not for U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien." The grand jury probe by O'Brien's office examined whether or not Mahony would be held accountable for leaving multiple sexual predators, including two convicted child molesters, serving in the ministry "until 2002 when a legal settlement in a clergy sexual abuse case mandated their removal." The suit was later dropped as it was filed under the honest services
act, a law which is usually only applied to public officials and not members of the church.
However as of November 2010, O’Brien made right with the case and has stated that "he didn’t do anything wrong," but told the L.A. Times that he takes “full responsibility” for excessive spending caused by any errors. The former U.S. Attorney paid an amount of money to the Department of Justice
to cover hotel bills the Inspector General report identified as excessive.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
law office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul Hastings LLP, formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, is a leading international law firm with 18 offices worldwide. Paul Hastings serves a diverse client base that includes many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies....
. He was the United States Attorney for the Central District of California from October 2007 to September 2009.
Education and military service
Mr. O'Brien graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1981 where he earned his bachelor's degree, and from the University of San Diego School of Law
University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California in the community of Linda Vista. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961...
in 1993, where he was an Associate Editor of the San Diego Law Review and received his degree with honors. He accumulated 2,000 flight hours as a Radar Intercept Officer in the F-14 fighter aircraft, and is a graduate of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School.
Legal career
O’Brien worked as Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
for more than five years. Before becoming United States Attorney, O’Brien served as Chief of the Criminal Division in the United States Attorney’s Office. He is currently a litigation Partner, where he focuses his practice on white collar defense and representing clients in federal investigations, at the Los Angeles law office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.
Disbanding Of Public Corruption Unit
Shortly after taking office as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, O'Brien disbanded the U.S. Attorneys office in Los Angeles whose target was corruptionPolitical corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
of public officials, elected officials, and other governmental regulators. O'Brien explained that the unit's 17 lawyers would be farmed out to other sections in the office.
Inquiry of Cardinal Roger Mahony
In 2009, O'Brien launched an inquiry of Cardinal Roger Mahony, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church's Los Angeles Archdiocese, which caused the Federal Grand JuryGrand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
to take action. With the grand jury's inquiry came the possibility that Mahony would be held responsible for the many molestations that occurred by members of the clergy who the cardinal had reason to suspect were pedophiles. O'Brien was responsible for bringing the suit to light. There's a possibility that the "let's-move-on attitude might have gained traction were it not for U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien." The grand jury probe by O'Brien's office examined whether or not Mahony would be held accountable for leaving multiple sexual predators, including two convicted child molesters, serving in the ministry "until 2002 when a legal settlement in a clergy sexual abuse case mandated their removal." The suit was later dropped as it was filed under the honest services
Honest services fraud
Honest services fraud refers to a 28-word sentence of , added by the United States Congress in 1988, which states: "For the purposes of this chapter, the term, scheme or artifice to defraud includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services."The statute...
act, a law which is usually only applied to public officials and not members of the church.
Government expense account
After O'Brien resigned as United States Attorney in September 2009. Shortly thereafter, an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department Inspector General uncovered that O'Brien stayed at pricey hotels while traveling and then sought government reimbursement by telling his secretary to lie and state falsely that more affordable rooms were not available. The report found that O'Brien's claims for reimbursement were "inappropriate and egregious" ethics violations. O'Brien denied telling his secretary to make false statements, but when interviewed by investigators he then blamed his secretary. Investigators found O'Brien's claims to be neither "credible or persuasive," the report said. O'Brien maintained his innocence.However as of November 2010, O’Brien made right with the case and has stated that "he didn’t do anything wrong," but told the L.A. Times that he takes “full responsibility” for excessive spending caused by any errors. The former U.S. Attorney paid an amount of money to the 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...
to cover hotel bills the Inspector General report identified as excessive.
Awards
- Named Prosecutor of the Month in July 2000 by the Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys.
- Received the 2007 Anti-Defamation League Pacific Southwest Region’s Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize for combating hate.
- In October 2007, O'Brien received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Justice Department’s highest award, for his role in successfully prosecuting four gang members who conspired to assault and murder African-Americans in the Highland Park neighborhood.