U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite resigns

By David T. Baker
Associate Editor

Kenneth A. Polite, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, submitted his resignation last Friday to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, effective on March 24, 2017.

In a statement released by Polite regarding his resignation, he said, “I have enjoyed this great opportunity to serve as U.S. Attorney here in Southeast Louisiana. More importantly, it has been the highest honor to lead this Office’s outstanding employees who are committed to the ideals of collegiality, diligence, and professionalism. I am confident that these public servants will continue to ensure that justice reaches out to all residents of this region. Regardless of my title or position, I will always work to improve the lives of our region’s residents, especially our young people.”

Polite, 41, took the reins of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in September 2013 after leaving prominent law firm Liskow & Lewis, where he was a partner based in the New Orleans office.

During his tenure as the U. S. attorney, Polite’s office “focused on improving prosecutorial efficiency and transparency, strengthening its regional collaboration with both law enforcement and the residents they serve, and fostering greater community interest in both prevention and reentry as necessary tools for improving public safety,” according to a press release sent out by the office.

Among the changes made to improve the office’s operations, Polite increased the number of prosecutors handling violent crime matters, and also established a dedicated Public Integrity Unit to investigate public corruption and civil rights violations – the office’s first ever. He also added six AUSAs to the office’s National Security Unit to address terrorism, immigration and environmental matters.

“Kenneth has been a devoted public servant and tirelessly fought for justice throughout his tenure as U.S. Attorney,” said Rep. Cedric Richmond in a statement issued regarding Polite’s resignation.

“He is a proud New Orleans son who went off to be educated at Harvard and Georgetown, and then clerked in the United States Court of Appeals’ Third Circuit. After a unanimous confirmation in the U.S. Senate he returned to improve the community he called home. We appreciated his focus on removing criminals that hurt our families and the strong presence he and his wife have in the community,” Richmond said.

Polite and his family plan to continue to reside in New Orleans. Details regarding his future endeavors, in both the public and private sectors, have not yet been released.

“He exemplifies the very high standard the U.S. Attorney’s Office embodies,” said Richmond, “and I know he will continue to make us proud in his next endeavor.”

Requests for comment from both the Trump administration and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards regarding Polite’s resignation received no response by press time.

You can follow news and updates from David T. Baker on Twitter at @Tadfly.

This article originally published in the March 13, 2017 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.