Mark Lesko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ActingUnited States Assistant Attorney General for theNational Security Division | |
| In office June 21, 2021 – November 1, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | John Demers |
| Succeeded by | Matthew G. Olsen |
| ActingUnited States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office March 19, 2021 – June 21, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Seth DuCharme (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jacquelyn M. Kasulis (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1967-02-04)February 4, 1967 (age 58) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Mark J. Lesko[1] (born February 4, 1967) is an American politician and attorney who served as the acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division at theUnited States Justice Department.[2] Prior to that, from January 20, 2021, he was named as actingUnited States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. In addition to his career as a prosecutor in theUnited States Department of Justice, Lesko served as town supervisor ofBrookhaven, New York.[3]
Lesko is a native ofWashington, D.C. and graduated fromSidwell Friends School.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history fromYale University, where he was a quarterback on the varsity football team. In 1994, Lesko received hisJuris Doctor fromGeorgetown University Law School, graduating on the dean's list and serving as a notes editor of theGeorgetown Immigration Law Journal.[5]
After graduating from law school, Lesko practiced law at firms inPittsburgh andWashington, D.C. He then served asassistant United States Attorney for 10 years. From 1999 to 2002, he was based in the District of Columbia and theEastern District of New York from 2002 to 2009.[6]
As of 2009, Lesko was the Democratic candidate for the openBrookhaven town supervisor position, which was vacated byDemocratBrian X. Foley in the past election. Foley was elected to theNew York State Senate and a special election is scheduled to be held on March 31, 2009, to decide his successor. Lesko was endorsed by Foley.[7] His opponent was town councilmanRepublican Tim Mazzei.[8] The special election for town supervisor on March 31, 2009, saw over 14% turnout according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.[9] Lesko defeated Mazzei by over 4000 votes and he assumed office as the supervisor ofBrookhaven.[10][11][12]
Lesko served as deputy chief of theLong Island Criminal Division, where he ran theU.S. Attorney's office on Long Island and managed all federal investigations and prosecutions inBrookhaven. From 2015 to 2018, Lesko was the vice president for economic development ofHofstra University.[13] In 2018, Lesko rejoined theUnited States Department of Justice, first serving as special counsel to the United States Attorney from the Eastern District of New York inBrooklyn. In March 2019, he became first deputy U.S. Attorney underRichard Donoghue.[14] On March 19, 2021, after the resignation of U.S. AttorneySeth DuCharme, Lesko became acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.[15]
Lesko and his wife Karen reside inEast Setauket,New York.[citation needed]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Assistant Attorney General for theNational Security Division Acting 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Acting 2021 | Succeeded by |