In November, 2016, the board of USA Gymnastics hired NAFUSA Past President Deborah Daniels to review the organization’s policies and practices for handling sex abuse allegations. On June 27, 2017, the IndyStar reported that Daniels has issued her report and that “USA Gymnastics needs a top-to-bottom culture change to put the safety of athletes ahead of winning medals”.

The IndyStar reported:

Daniels’ report did not call for personnel changes, but focused on policies.

 

‘In order to protect the young athletes in its charge, USA Gymnastics needs to undergo a complete cultural change, permeating the entire organization and communicated to the field in all its actions,’Daniels wrote in her 146-page report. ‘Further, USA Gymnastics needs to take action to ensure that this change in culture also is fully embraced by the clubs that host member coaches, instructors and athletes.’

 

Among the findings and recommendations:

 

• USA Gymnastics did not immediately report all allegations of abuse to law enforcement, as reported by IndyStar, and must begin to do so.
• USA Gymnastics had no protocol for addressing sex abuse complaints, often requiring a written grievance signed by a victim or parent. The organization should develop a specific policy for handling abuse allegations.
• USA Gymnastics did not track coaches and other adults dismissed from member clubs for violating policies intended to prevent abuse, and must develop a method to keep track of offending coaches.
• USA Gymnastics exerted little authority over its member clubs, insisting they were independent businesses, but should begin holding the clubs accountable.

‘What we recommended is that you treat membership like the privilege it is,’ Daniels said.

Change ‘can’t happen overnight,’ Daniels said. ‘It will take time. It will take thoughtful and strategic planning and execution to implement.’

Click here to read the IndyStar article “Can USA Gymnastics reform itself under current leadership?

NAFUSA life member and former director Alice Martin announced on June 13, 2017, that she is running for Attorney General of the State of Alabama. See Martin Announces Run for Attorney General

Martin served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama 2001-2009. Martin was best known for her successful prosecution of Eric Robert Rudolph, the FBI’s #1 most wanted domestic terrorist responsible for an abortion clinic bombing in Birmingham (and Olympic Park in Atlanta); the $2.8B accounting fraud of HealthSouth; and for establishing the North Alabama Public Corruption Task Force which obtained 140 corruption convictions. Notable corruption investigations involved Alabama’s 2-year college scandal and the Jefferson County sewer system which lead to the largest government bankruptcy in U. S. history.

During her eight years as U.S. Attorney, Martin was a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, and chaired its sub-committee on Healthcare Fraud Task Force. Her healthcare fraud task force in Northern Alabama collected over $750M in recoveries and employed the first use of extrapolation for damage calculation. She was the first to prosecute a violation of Sarbanes-Oxley. She was named “Top 10 Prosecutor in the U. S.” by Corporate Fraud Reporter, and won the IRS’s highest award given to a non-agency employee for her service in HealthSouth.

Martin most recently served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General to Luther Strange before his appointment to the U. S. Senate by Governor Robert Bentley. Martin served on the prosecution team that convicted Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard last year. Martin was leading the criminal investigation of Governor Bentley, who faced impeachment, until Bentley appointed an attorney general. She then resigned to run for AG in the June 2018 primary. Bentley has since resigned in exchange for a misdemeanor plea.

Martin is currently a Deputy Attorney General for the fiscal watchdog of Alabama, the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. She is a certified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a frequent speaker on fraud investigations. In her previous government service Martin served for 6 years as a federal prosecutor in the Western District of Tennessee. She also has previously served as a Circuit Court Judge in Alabama.

Between public service Martin enjoyed private sector legal work specializing in insurance defense litigation, white collar investigations and healthcare regulatory compliance. She has served in house as a VP- Ethics and Compliance for a multi-state hospital management company. She is certified in healthcare compliance (CHC) and healthcare privacy (CHPC). She is licensed in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Martin earned her J.D. in 1981 from the University of Mississippi., and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in 1978. She worked as a RN during law school. She is married to Louis Martin and they have three daughters. See www.alicemartin.com for more information.

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On June 7, 2017, President Trump announced through a tweet that he was nominating NAFUSA life member Christopher A. Wray to be the FBI Director. Wray served as the assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice from 2003 to 2005. He also served as the principal associate deputy attorney general (2001-2003) and as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia (1997-2001).

Wray is currently a partner at King & Spalding LLP in Washington. He earned his J.D. at Yale Law School.

Steve Dettelbach

NAFUSA member Steve Dettelbach announced on May 30, 2017, that he is running for Attorney General of the State of Ohio. Dettelbach served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio 2009-2016, and rejoined BakerHostetler in February, 2016, as a partner in the Litigation Group and co-leader of the firm’s national White Collar and Corporate Investigations team.

In his previous government service Dettelbach served for 12 years as a federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, U.S. Attorneys Offices in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and the Northern District of Ohio as a member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Strike Force, receiving numerous awards including Prosecutor of the Year by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, special achievement awards during his tenure at the Department of Justice, and personal commendations from the U.S. Attorney General and the Director of the FBI.

Dettelbach earned his J.D. in 1991 from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, where he served as Senior Notes Editor of the Harvard Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review. He graduated summa cum laude with his A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College in 1988 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

See Steve Dettelbach for Attorney General for more information.

Pat Miles

Barnes & Thornburg LLP, announced on May 5, 2017, that it had added former U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles Jr. to its Grand Rapids office, where he will focus his practice on corporate compliance, investigations, monitorships and business transactions. Barnes & Thornburg is the largest law firm with a Grand Rapids office and one of only two AmLaw100 law firms in Michigan. Miles is also one of NAFUSA’s newest members.

Miles was the first black U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan and served from 2012 to 2017, by appointment of President Barack Obama. In this role, Miles combated gang violence, child exploitation, financial fraud and organized crime, including racketeering, firearm and drug distribution, among other civil and criminal matters. He also focused on improving community relations with law enforcement, aiding former prisoners with reentry, and assisting veterans with employment opportunities.

Miles is the third former U.S. Attorney to join Barnes & Thornburg in the past two years. They each practice as part of the firm’s white collar and investigations team.

Miles is a Grand Rapids native and is actively involved in the business community and civic affairs. Miles worked in private law practice for more than 20 years before holding public office, and he also ran as the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s Third District Congressional seat in 2010. Prior to his confirmation as U.S. Attorney by the Senate, he served more than two dozen charitable and professional boards and committees and presided over the Grand Rapids Bar Association as its elected president from 2004 to 2005.

“As a homegrown talent, Pat is a preeminent legal professional who is invested and prideful in the types of clients and matters he represents,” said Robert Sikkel, managing partner of the Grand Rapids office. “With a track record in this market that is second to none, Pat is capable of making immense business and civic contributions, and his decision to continue his legal career at Barnes & Thornburg is a testament to the work we’re doing in Western Michigan and throughout the country.”

Miles’ career and accomplishments have been recognized by numerous organizations, including the State Bar of Michigan, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, West Michigan United Way, Grand Rapids chapter of the NAACP, Grand Rapids and Michigan Jaycees, as well as several local and regional business publications.

“I’m delighted to join Barnes & Thornburg, which has the size, scope and collaborative culture that fosters excellence in legal service,” added Miles.

Miles earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Law Record, and his B.S. in Business Administration from Aquinas College.

The firm’s other two former U.S. Attorneys, Michael Battle and Roscoe Howard, reside in its Washington, D.C., office.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 13 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Paul Fishman

On March 16, 2017 Seton Hall University School of Law welcomed Paul J. Fishman, former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Fishman resigned his post on March 10 after seven-and-a-half years of service as U.S. Attorney, and more than 21 years with the United States Department of Justice. He is also a new member of NAFUSA.

Fishman received an honorary degree from Seton Hall Law in 2011 and comes to the law school with a distinguished history of public service and substantial accomplishments as a practitioner. He will guest lecture in classes, meet informally with students, and serve as a keynote speaker in Seton Hall Law’s globally recognized healthcare compliance program.

According to Dean Kathleen Boozang, “Access to someone with Mr. Fishman’s experience is a rare opportunity for those interested in public service careers, the practice of criminal law, or the compliance profession. He is already well known among students who have interned in the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a fabulous mentor who impresses upon them their duty of practicing law with integrity and a commitment to fairness and justice. His energy and intellect are the ingredients for a very successful classroom presence.”

Fishman was nominated by President Barack Obama as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in June 2009 and was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate in October 2009. He served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC).

Fishman started his career as a law clerk to Judge Edward R. Becker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1983-1994, and held the positions of Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of the Criminal Division, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney during that period. He then served as a senior advisor to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the United States from 1994-1997. From 1998-2009, Mr. Fishman was a partner at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman where he handled complex civil litigation and headed the firm’s white collar practice.

He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and B.A. from Princeton University.