The White House announced John Lausch as Trump’s nomination for Chicago’s U.S. attorney Thursday. The Senate, which is on recess until after Labor Day, must approve Lausch.
If approved, Lausch will take over one of the busiest U.S. attorney offices in the country. Lausch attended Harvard University for his bachelor’s degree and law school at Northwestern University, he served as the assistant U.S. attorney general in the Northern District of Illinois from 1999 to 2010.
During his decade as an assistant he worked his way to a deputy chief position in the Narcotics and Gang Section. In addition, he took on leadership in the anti-gang and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs. Gang-related killings and shootings have been of particular focus for Trump’s approach to Chicago.
According to DNAinfo, Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth were satisfied with the nomination.
“Mr. Lausch has served the people of the Northern District and the cause of justice for years, and we expect him to be a diligent, thoughtful, and principled U.S. Attorney,” Durbin and Duckworth said. “We look forward to seeing his nomination through the Senate.”
Trump has made violence and safety issues in Chicago a topic of discussion on multiple occasions, and a colleague of Lausch’s reported that he has a solid relationship with local law enforcement institutions.
“John brings a strong public safety background to the office, and it is my hope that he will use the power of that office to increase the federal prosecution of gun crimes in Chicago and strengthen public safety in our communities,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the Chicago Sun-Times.