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Outgoing US Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr.’s office may be more than 60 miles away from the Bayou Region, but officials here say the soft-spoken top federal prosecutor threw a long shadow during his tenure that will be missed.
Polite said last week that he is stepping down from his post as US Attorney for the Eastern District of New Orleans, a job he has held since 2013.
The announcement came on the very same day – Friday – that President Donald Trump’s new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, demanded resignations from 46 incumbent US Attorneys nationwide. Polite, however, tendered his resignation to Sessions Wednesday. A staff member said that Polite’s decision “was his own.”
“I didn’t think he was going anywhere,” said Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, whose deputies have had contact with Polite and his office on a variety of matters including drug cases begun locally that resulted in or were related to federal prosecutions. “We all recommended him, all of the surrounding sheriffs. We sent a letter to the President to nominate him. He is a very professional person, honorable and honest as the day is long.”
While much of the relationship between Larpenter’s office and Polite has been cooperative in nature, the outgoing US Attorney’s staff was responsible for prosecutions of two TPSO deputies, Dawn Foret and Darrell Stewart, in separate theft cases arising out of federally-funded extra duty details. Both pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.
“We are going to miss him because he was always straight forward,” Larpenter said. “He is an honorable man.”
Polite cut a profile in local schools, including those in Terrebonne and other parishes outside the New Orleans area in visits that included administering a pledge for students against gun violence.
Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Polite was a partner at the law firm of Liskow & Lewis, specializing in white collar criminal defense. He had served as an Assisted U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York – the office once headed by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Polite, the son of a police officer, grew up in New Orleans, attending De La Salle High School. His undergraduate degree in government was earned at Harvard and he graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. Immediately after that he served as a clerk to 3rd Circuit US Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Ambro.
“I have enjoyed this great opportunity to serve as U.S. Attorney here in Southeast Louisiana,” Polite said in his resignation announcement. “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.”
The office he headed was in turmoil when he took it over. Jim Letten – with 11 years on the job the longest serving US Attorney in history – resigned after key staff members made online comments about pending cases.
During his tenure, Polite increased the number of prosecutors handling federal crimes of violence, and established a public integrity unit responsible for investigating public corruption and civil rights violations. He also strengthened the office’s National Security Unit, adding six assistant US attorneys to address terrorism, immigration, and environmental matters. Over the past 3.5 years, the Office’s enforcement efforts resulted in, among other matters.
The office successfully prosecuted vicious street gangs responsible for homicides and drug trafficking. High profile corruption cases resulted in the conviction of former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and officials from St. Tammany and St. Charles parishes.
Polite also made prosecution of police officers responsible for criminal civil rights violations a priority, as well as child pornographers and health care personnel, including doctors, engaged in multi-million dollar fraud schemes. His office claims that more human traffickers were prosecuted during Polite’s tenure than during that of any other US Attorney. His office achieved the first-ever federal conviction of a motel operator for benefiting from sex trafficking.
Transparency was a hallmark of Polite’s office operations, with press releases issued at the charging, conviction, and sentencing phases of every criminal matter. Internally, Polite issued a weekly office report, advising his staff of the criminal, civil, outreach, and administrative work being done across the Office. In collaboration with the U.S. Probation Office, the Federal Defenders’ Office, and the federal judiciary, the Office also began sharing pretrial risk assessment scores in a manner that cut down on unnecessary pretrial detention.
“From the outset of his tenure, Polite focused on reestablishing the Office’s regional presence. Polite regularly traveled throughout all 13 parishes, seeking to improve working relationships and communication with community leaders, educators, students, and law enforcement,” a statement prepared by his staff reads. “Local, state, and federal law enforcement officials from across the region regularly attended training sessions and conferences hosted by the office.”
Polite has received numerous awards including the Leadership in the Law award from New Orleans City Business, the Goldman Criminal Justice Reform award from Court Watch NOLA, and the Community Light in Mentorship award from Each One, Save One. Loyola University Law School awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws, and De La Salle High School set up a scholarship in his name, to honor a graduating senior who has excelled in scholarship and leadership.
Polite and his family will continue to reside in New Orleans. Speculation has already begun to mount that he may run for mayor of New Orleans, but he has made no public statements confirming or denying that possibility.
