View source for Michael Sullivan (U.S. attorney)

{{short description|American lawyer and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Michael J. Sullivan
|image        = Michael Sullivan ATF Acting Director.jpg
|office       = Acting Director of the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]]
|president    = [[George W. Bush]]
|term_start   = September 2006
|term_end     = January 20, 2009
|appointer     = [[Alberto Gonzales]]
|predecessor  = [[Carl Truscott]]<br>Edgar A. Domenech (acting)
|successor    = Ronald "Ronnie" A. Carter (acting)<br>[[Kenneth E. Melson]] (acting)
|office1      = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts|District of Massachusetts]]
|president1   = George W. Bush<br>[[Barack Obama]]
|term_start1  = September 19, 2001
|term_end1    = April 17, 2009
|predecessor1 = [[Donald K. Stern|Donald Stern]]
|successor1   = [[Carmen Ortiz]]
|office2      = [[District Attorney]] of [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]]
|term_start2  = June 1995
|term_end2    = September 2001
|predecessor2 = [[William C. O'Malley|William O'Malley]]
|successor2   = [[Timothy J. Cruz|Timothy Cruz]]
|state_house3 = Massachusetts
|district3    = [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 7th Plymouth district|7th Plymouth]]
|term_start3  = January 1991
|term_end3    = June 1995
|predecessor3 = [[Emmet Hayes]]
|successor3   = [[Ronald Whitney (politician)|Ronald Whitney]]
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1954|10|3|mf=y}}
|birth_place  = {{nowrap|[[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States|U.S.]]}}
|death_date   =
|death_place  =
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|alma_mater   = [[Boston College]]<br>[[Suffolk University Law School|Suffolk University]]
}}
'''Michael J. Sullivan''' (born October 3, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as [[United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts|U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts]] (2001–2009) and Acting Director of the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]] (2006–2009). His work as U.S. Attorney largely focused on national security and health-care fraud. A native of the [[Holbrook, Massachusetts|Holbrook]]–[[Abington, Massachusetts|Abington]] region, Sullivan served earlier in his career as the [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]] [[District Attorney]], and as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]].
==Early life and career==
Sullivan was born October 3, 1954, the second of seven children, and grew up in [[Holbrook, Massachusetts]].<ref name="metro-2007">{{cite news |url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/state/x118361150 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411085945/http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/state/x118361150 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Michael Sullivan: Friends, neighbors reflect on rise to national prominence |date=December 10, 2007 |author=Rubin, Ben |work=The MetroWest Daily News }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=1991-1992 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19911992bost#page/224/mode/2up }}</ref> He attended [[Boston College High School]] and [[Boston College]], and went onto [[Suffolk University Law School]]. He worked with the [[Gillette Company]] from 1973 to 1989 before moving into private law, becoming partner at McGovern & Sullivan in the early 1990s.<ref name="ledger-2009">{{cite news |url=http://www.patriotledger.com/homepage/x937679162/U-S-attorney-Michael-Sullivan-of-Abington-will-not-stay-on-the-job |title=U.S. attorney Michael Sullivan of Abington will not stay on the job |date=February 12, 2009 |work=Patriot Ledger |author=Kelly, John P.}}</ref>
Representing the town of [[Abington, Massachusetts|Abington]], he was elected as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] state representative in 1990. He was voted "Legislator of the Year" by the Massachusetts Municipal Organization in 1994.<ref name="ledger-2009" /> Among his initiatives was a budget amendment to have the [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority]] charge municipalities for sewage management by volume instead of population, which moved much of the cost burden away from outlying towns and toward [[Boston]]. The amendment was adopted by the House but reversed the following day under pressure from Democratic leaders.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/68111900.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411160000/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/68111900.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |author=Fehrnstrom, Eric |work=[[Boston Herald]] |title=Reps reverse vote on MWRA |date=May 28, 1993}}</ref> He stepped down in 1995 after being named District Attorney for [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]].<ref name="ledger-2009" /> He took early steps to run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent [[Ted Kennedy]] in 2000, but retracted before declaring an official candidacy.<ref name="fortune-2003" />
==Tenure as U.S. Attorney==
[[File:DEA Outstanding Comprehensive Strategic Plan award - Boston 2003.jpg|thumb|left|Sullivan ''(second from left)'' is recognized by the U.S. [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] in 2003 as part of the Boston Gun Violence Reduction Program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2003/boston022803.html |title=Boston Gun Violence Reduction Program Recognized As National Model |publisher=[[Drug Enforcement Administration]] |date=February 28, 2003}}</ref>]]
Sullivan was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts by President [[George W. Bush]] on September 14, 2001, in the wake of the [[September 11 attacks]]. His early work revolved around the terrorist attacks, which were launched from Boston's [[Logan Airport]].<ref name="fortune-2003">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/10/27/351677/index.htm |title=Why Do Drug Companies Fear This Man? Maybe because he's declared all-out war on cheats in the drug industry. |date=October 27, 2003 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |author=Simons, John}}</ref> Sullivan was the prosecutor in the 2001–2002 criminal trial of [[Richard Reid]], widely known as the "Shoe Bomber".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/29/us/a-nation-challenged-the-investigation-shoes-were-a-homemade-bomb-fbi-agent-says.html?src=pm |title=A NATION CHALLENGED: THE INVESTIGATION |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 29, 2001 |last1=Belluck |first1=Pam |last2=Chang |first2=Kenneth}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Accused 'shoe bomber' intends to plead guilty |url=https://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/02/reid.plea/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 2, 2002}}</ref>
He prosecuted airport workers arrested at Logan Airport as part of "[[Operation Tarmac]]" accused of lying about their nationality on job applications. According to the ''[[Boston Phoenix]]'', "every US attorney prosecuting Operation Tarmac cases [...] either reduced or dropped the charges" except for Sullivan, who wrote, "Ignoring the alleged criminal activity of illegal immigrants sends the wrong message to the rest of the world."<ref name="phoenix-2002">{{cite news | title = Prosecutorial abuse: US Attorney Michael Sullivan should drop the charges against the Logan 19 | url = http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/02261124.htm | newspaper = [[Boston Phoenix]] | date = 2002-05-09 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041220175617/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/02261124.htm | archive-date = 2004-12-20 }}</ref>
Within a few weeks of taking office, Sullivan organized a health-care fraud unit in his district and nearly tripled the number of prosecutors assigned to medical cases, prosecuting companies such as [[TAP Pharmaceuticals]] as well as smaller facilities and individual providers. He said: "You couldn't ignore this, even in light of 9/11."<ref name="fortune-2003" />
He spoke before the [[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security|U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security]] in support of the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] in May 2005, urging Congress to make the act's surveillance provisions permanent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/subs/testimony/050305-usa-sullivan.pdf |title=Statement concerning the surveillance provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (§§ 201, 202, and 223) |date=May 3, 2005 |publisher=[[United States House Committee on the Judiciary]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422162954/https://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/subs/testimony/050305-usa-sullivan.pdf |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Sullivan presented charges, in Boston, on November 23, 2005, against [[Abdullah Khadr]], an Egyptian from Canada who is alleged to have sold arms to the Taliban.<ref name="VancouverSun" /><ref name="BostonGlobe051218" /><ref name="BostonGlobe051219" />
In February 2009, following the inauguration of President [[Barack Obama]], Sullivan announced his intention to resign his position, following the customary practice of U.S. Attorneys, who typically do not retain their posts in a new administrations.<ref name="ledger-2009" />
== Tenure as ATF Director==
In 2006, Sullivan was made Acting Director of the ATF by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="ledger-2009" /> The position had been made subject to the Senate confirmation process and Sullivan was the first nominee to be sent to the Senate. Bush nominated Sullivan to be permanent director in 2007, but the nomination was blocked by a Senate hold placed by Senators [[David Vitter]] (R-Louisiana), [[Michael Crapo]] (R-Idaho) and [[Larry Craig|Larry E. Craig]] (R-Idaho).  They expressed their concern that the ATF is hostile to small gun dealers, pursuing them overzealously for small paperwork infractions and driving law-abiding small retailers out of business.  They said that Sullivan was indifferent to their concerns and "exhibits a lack of willingness to address these problems."<ref name=latimes-schmitt>{{cite news|author=Richard B. Schmitt |title=ATF nominee in the crossfire |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atf25feb25,1,4119857.story |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2008-02-25 |access-date=2008-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524044855/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atf25feb25%2C1%2C4119857.story |archive-date=2008-05-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sullivan has been criticized frequently by one such affected gun dealer, Ryan Horsley of Red’s Trading Post, Twin Falls, Idaho, Idaho's oldest gun dealership.<ref name=latimes-schmitt /> Horsley says that the ATF has a long track record of abusive behavior and Sullivan, as Acting Director, continued to defend the ATF's abusive actions without any indication of making changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2008/02/senator-vitter-continues-to-keep-hold.html |title=Senator Vitter continues to keep a hold on ATF Director Nominee |access-date=2008-03-02 |date=2008-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221215258/http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2008/02/senator-vitter-continues-to-keep-hold.html |archive-date=2008-02-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sullivan was a keynote speaker and special guest at the 2007 Great Lakes Summit on Gun Violence conference.<ref name=taking-a-stand>
{{cite web |url=http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/Publications/ACF1875.pdf |title=Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities |access-date=2008-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029202906/http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/Publications/ACF1875.pdf |archive-date=2008-10-29 }}
</ref>  This conference was organized by the [[International Association of Chiefs of Police]] and funded by a $375,000 grant from the [[Joyce Foundation]].<ref>[http://www.joycefdn.org/Programs/GunViolence/GrantDetails.aspx?grantId=30032 The Joyce Foundation<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921052131/http://www.joycefdn.org/Programs/GunViolence/GrantDetails.aspx?grantId=30032 |date=2009-09-21 }}</ref>  The report of the conference was titled "Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities" and called for the passage of several gun bans and gun control measures.<ref name=taking-a-stand />  The [[National Rifle Association of America]] has criticized the IACP report, calling it "a rubber stamp, bought and paid for, of the pre-existing agenda for gun ban groups."  The report was produced with assistance from the Joyce Foundation's Communications Director and with contributions from gun control advocates such as Kristen Rand and Tom Diaz of the [[Violence Policy Center]].  The NRA has called the Joyce Foundation an activist foundation whose "shadowy web of huge donations" leads "straight to puppet strings that control the agenda of gun ban groups".<ref name=nra-ftm>
{{cite magazine|last=Cox |first=Chris |date=December 2007 |title=Follow the Money |magazine=[[American Rifleman]] |volume=155 |issue=12 |publisher=[[National Rifle Association of America]] |url=http://www.nrapublications.org/TAR/Money.asp |access-date=2007-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120328/http://www.nrapublications.org/tar/money.asp |archive-date=March 5, 2016 }}</ref>
Sullivan's confirmation was opposed by gun rights groups such as the [[Gun Owners of America]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gunowners.org/a120407.htm |title=Senate Close To Confirming A Ted Kennedy-style Liberal To BATFE |access-date=2008-03-03 |publisher=[[Gun Owners of America]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213213428/http://www.gunowners.org/a120407.htm |archive-date=2007-12-13 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/sullivan.confirmation.htm |title=CCRKBA urges Senate to withhold Sullivan confirmation at BATFE |access-date=2008-03-03 |publisher=[[CCRKBA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216061401/http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/sullivan.confirmation.htm |archive-date=2008-02-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpfo.org/filegen-n-z/zel-open-20071212.htm |title=An Open Letter to the People of America  |access-date=2008-03-03 |author=Aaron Zelman, Executive Director |publisher=[[Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]]}}</ref>  The NRA did not categorically state its opposition to the confirmation of Mr. Sullivan but expressed its concern over the ATF's "overly restrictive legal interpretations" and "overly zealous enforcement activities".<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.nraila.org/pdfs/batfesullivan.pdf |title=Letter |access-date=2008-03-03 |author=Chris W. Cox |date=2007-12-27 |work=pdf |publisher=[[National Rifle Association of America]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029202906/http://www.nraila.org/pdfs/batfesullivan.pdf |archive-date=2008-10-29 }}
</ref>
Sullivan resigned as Acting Director effective January 20, 2009 to make way for incoming President Barack Obama to name his own nominee.<ref>{{cite news
|title=Sullivan resigns from post as acting ATF director
|url=http://www3.whdh.com:80/news/articles/local/BO101278/
|agency=The Associated Press, via WHDH
|date=2009-01-13
|access-date=2020-02-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816133446/http://www4.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO101278/
|archive-date=2011-08-16
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
==U.S. Senate election, 2013==
Sullivan announced on February 14, that he would collect signatures to run for the Republican nomination in the [[United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2013|2013 special election]] to succeed [[John Kerry]] as U.S. Senator.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chabot|first=Hillary|title=Former U.S. Attorney Sullivan gathering signatures for Senate run |url=http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/02/former_us_attorney_sullivan_gathering_signatures_for_senate_run |newspaper=Boston Herald|access-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> He relied on volunteers rather than paid organizations to gather signatures. On February 27, he announced that he had gathered the requisite 10,000 signatures to appear on the primary ballot. He faced state Representative [[Dan Winslow]] and former [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEAL]] [[Gabriel E. Gomez|Gabriel Gomez]] in the April 30 primary.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/02/27/sullivan-mass-senate-ballot/EN6YspdiAMbJm7Ir9HRn4J/story.html |title=Sullivan: I'll be on Mass. US Senate ballot |work=boston.com |date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
Sullivan was defeated in the primary by [[Gabriel E. Gomez]] who garnered 93,632, or 51% of the votes. Sullivan, gathered 66,164 votes, or 36%, whereas state Representative [[Dan Winslow]], collected 24,057, or 13% of the votes, with 99 percent of precincts reporting shortly before 11:30 pm, on April 30, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/04/30/three-democrats-two-republicans-compete-special-senate-primary/NZVqJxD6hBFeo4X264aLcJ/story.html |title=Gabriel E. Gomez wins GOP nod in special US Senate primary; Edward J. Markey to run for the Democrats |work=boston.com |date=April 30, 2013}}</ref> Sullivan later endorsed Gomez.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gomezforma.com/former-prosecutor-republican-senate-candidate-mike-sullivan-endorses-gomez/ |title=FORMER PROSECUTOR, REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE MIKE SULLIVAN ENDORSES GOMEZ - Gabriel Gomez for U.S. Senate |access-date=2013-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109214539/http://www.gomezforma.com/former-prosecutor-republican-senate-candidate-mike-sullivan-endorses-gomez/ |archive-date=2014-01-09 }}</ref>
==Personal life==
Sullivan's residence is in Abington. He and his wife Terry have four children.<ref name="ledger-2009" />  He has been partner at [[The Ashcroft Group]] since 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashcroftgroupllc.com/ourteam/michael-sullivan/ |title=Michael Sullivan - the Ashcroft Group |access-date=2013-02-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303114318/http://www.ashcroftgroupllc.com/ourteam/michael-sullivan/ |archive-date=2013-03-03 }}</ref> His daughter [[Alyson Sullivan]] represents the 7th Plymouth District in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]. Sullivan is the Chairman of the Board of HarborOne Bank the largest state-chartered co-operative bank in New England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directors and Exec Team - HarborOne Bank |url=https://www.harborone.com/about-us/directors-and-exec-team |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=www.harborone.com}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2
|refs=
<ref name="VancouverSun">[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=3f41c030-ad28-4831-ba2f-f9872c5025e8&k=86124 Boston judge issued warrant for Abdullah Khadr] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106040155/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=3f41c030-ad28-4831-ba2f-f9872c5025e8&k=86124 |date=2012-11-06 }}, ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', December 20, 2005</ref>
<ref name="BostonGlobe051218">[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/18/eldest_son_of_family_linked_to_terrorism_arrested_in_toronto/ Eldest son of family linked to terrorism arrested in Toronto], ''[[Boston Globe]]'', December 18, 2005</ref>
<ref name="BostonGlobe051219">[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/19/suspected_terrorist_admits_buying_weapons_for_use_against_us/ Court papers: Suspect confessed to weapons buys for al-Qaida], ''[[Boston Globe]]'', December 19, 2005</ref>}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060828133420/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/04761837.asp ‘Animal’ crackers: US Attorney Michael Sullivan should have fortified his own glass house before casting stones at Tom Finneran], ''[[Boston Phoenix]]'', June 17, 2005
*{{Twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Michael}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Boston College alumni]]
[[Category:Directors of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Suffolk University Law School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Attorneys for the District of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Holbrook, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Boston College High School alumni]]