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Rachael Rollins
Official portrait, 2022
United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
In office
January 10, 2022 – May 19, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byAndrew Lelling
Succeeded byJoshua S. Levy
District Attorney of Suffolk County
In office
January 2, 2019 – January 10, 2022
Preceded byJohn Pappas
Succeeded byKevin R. Hayden
Personal details
Born (1971-03-03) March 3, 1971 (age 53)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst (BA)
Northeastern University (JD)
Georgetown University (LLM)

Rachael Splaine Rollins (born March 3, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. attorney for District of Massachusetts from 2022 to 2023. Before that, she was the district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rollins to be the United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts.[1][2] She was confirmed by the United States Senate by a 50–50 vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie.[3] She is an advocate for criminal justice reform.[4] She resigned in May 2023 after an investigation revealed multiple ethics violations, including that she had leaked government secrets to influence the election of a political ally.[5]

Early life and education

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Rollins was born in Boston and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the oldest of five children. Her father, a second-generation Irish-American, worked as a teacher.[6] Her maternal grandparents are from Barbados and her mother is a first-generation American. Rollins attended Buckingham Browne & Nichols School[7] and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and African-American studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Juris Doctor from the Northeastern University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in labor and unemployment law from the Georgetown University Law Center.[8][9]

Career

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Rollins began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge Frederick Brown of the Massachusetts Appeals Court from 1997 to 1998. From 1999 to 2002, she was a field attorney for the National Labor Relations Board and from 2002 to 2006, Rollins was an attorney at Bingham McCutchen LLP in their Boston office. Rollins was an assistant United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2011. Rollins served as the general counsel to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation from 2011 to 2013 and contemporaneously to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from 2012 to 2013. She was chief legal counsel to the Massachusetts Port Authority from 2013 to 2015.[citation needed]

District attorney

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Election

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During her campaign, Rollins pledged to decriminalize certain offenses, such as shoplifting, drug possession, wanton or malicious destruction of property, drug possession with intent to distribute, driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license, and resisting arrest.[10][11][12] She defeated four other candidates in the September 4, 2018, Democratic primary[13][14][15] and won the November 6, 2018, general election with 80% of the vote against independent challenger Michael P. Maloney.[16][17][18] She took office on January 2, 2019.[19]

Tenure

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Rollins succeeded John P. Pappas, who was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to serve as Suffolk County district attorney from September 26, 2018, completing the final months of Daniel F. Conley's 16-year term.[20][21]

In March 2019, she laid out a memorandum on resolving petty crimes without jail time.[22] In her capacity as district attorney, she required prosecutors to visit jails.[10] Rollins endorsed New York City councilwoman Tiffany Cabán in the Democratic primary for Queens County District Attorney.[23]

A study by economists at Rutgers University, Texas A&M University, and New York University found that Rollins's policy change whereby nonviolent misdemeanor offenses would not be prosecuted did not lead to an increase in crime rates and that it reduced the likelihood that nonviolent misdemeanor offenders would be arrested in the future.[24]

Cash bail

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After campaigning on a platform that included reducing the use of cash bail, Rollins has since critiqued the Massachusetts Bail Fund for securing the release of incarcerated people charged with violent felonies from pretrial detention.[25] After a person bailed out by the Massachusetts Bail Fund allegedly committed another sexual assault following their release, Rollins became embroiled in a debate over the nature of cash bail, with critics arguing that bail should not be used to keep individuals incarcerated who cannot pay, and community safety should be ensured through other methods.[26] Rollins faced further criticism when her office successfully secured an increase in the bail of a person experiencing homelessness who was charged with armed robbery when learning he would be bailed out by the fund.[25]

U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts

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Nomination and confirmation

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In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rollins to be the United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton said he would try to prevent Rollins from being confirmed, saying she supported policies that have contributed to an increase in violent crime. Senator Ted Cruz also criticized her for stating she would not prosecute certain crimes, such as trespassing, breaking and entering, larceny, resisting arrest, wanton or malicious destruction of property, drug possession with intent to distribute, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and several more.[27][28][29] In September 2021, a committee vote to advance Rollins' nomination was delayed after Cotton wanted more time to convince colleagues to oppose her.[30][31]

On September 30, 2021, her nomination was stalled in committee by an 11–11 vote.[32] On December 8, 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote on the Senate's motion to invoke cloture on, as well as to confirm, Rollins's nomination.[33] After her confirmation, the United States Marshals Service refused Rollins' request for a full time security detail, assessing that she was at a low risk of actual harm after receiving death threats via email.[34] On January 10, 2022, she was sworn-in as the United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts.[35]

Ethics probe and resignation

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In November 2022, the United States Department of Justice's inspector general opened a wide-ranging ethics probe into Rollins' appearance at a Democratic National Committee political fundraiser with First Lady Jill Biden, her travel, and use of her personal cellphone.[36]

The inspector general's 161-page report alleged a broad array of misconduct by Rollins. It accused her of disclosing to a journalist nonpublic information about a possible Justice Department investigation, soliciting and accepting 30 free tickets to a Boston Celtics game and accepting thousands of dollars from a sports and entertainment agency for flights and a stay at a luxury resort. According to the report, Rollins tried to influence the outcome of the race to succeed her as Suffolk County District Attorney by "repeatedly attempt[ing] to sabotage" the campaign of the rival (Kevin Hayden) of her favored candidate (Ricardo Arroyo). The report also found that she had lied under oath to investigators.[37][38]

Another federal watchdog agency, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, found in its own investigative report that on multiple occasions Rollins violated the Hatch Act, a law that limits political activity by government workers. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Special Counsel Henry Kerner described Rollins' violations as among the "most egregious transgressions" of the law that the agency has ever investigated:[39] "In particular, her repeated efforts to leak non-public DOJ information for the purpose of harming a political candidate rank among the most flagrant violations of the Hatch Act that OSC has ever investigated," the report states. "The leak was an extraordinary breach of public trust by a senior government official, which threatens to erode confidence in the integrity of federal law enforcement actions."[39]

Rollins resigned on May 19, 2023, preventing the federal government from disciplining her.[39][40][41][42]

In February 2024, Rollins was suspended from practicing law in Massachusetts for nonpayment of registration fees.[43] She regained her law license in April.[44]

As of March 2024, Rollins works as the special projects administrator at Roxbury Community College, reportedly tasked with leading a program for formerly incarcerated people.[45]

References

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  1. ^ "President Biden Announces Eight Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys". The White House. July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Neidig, Harper (July 26, 2021). "Biden nominates progressive DA as US attorney in Massachusetts". The Hill. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "U.S. Senate: Roll Call Votes 117th Congress – 1st Session (2021)". www.senate.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Rachael Rollins wants to remake the criminal justice system. Republicans have vowed to block her path". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Federal watchdogs issue scathing reports on U.S. attorney for Massachusetts". POLITICO. May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Rollins brings mandate for change – and blunt style – to Suffolk DA's job". CommonWealth Magazine. December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "School Committee members sworn into office, triggering the process to replace missing sixth". Cambridge Day. January 7, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  8. ^ The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy: Rachael Rollins
  9. ^ "Rachael Rollins". Kennedy Summer School. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Dwyer, Dialynn. "Q&A: Suffolk County District Attorney-elect Rachael Rollins on her priorities and how her personal experiences inform her work as a prosecutor". www.boston.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rachael Rollins for Suffolk DA | Charges to be Declined". Archived from the original on April 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "'Just Read It, Read It Yourself!': Ted Cruz Uses Nominee's Document to Discredit Her – YouTube". YouTube.
  13. ^ "PD43+ » 2018 District Attorney Democratic Primary Suffolk District". PD43+.
  14. ^ "Rachael Rollins takes Democrats" nod for district attorney". Boston Herald. September 5, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Cramer, Maria. "Rachael Rollins bests crowded field to win Democratic primary for Suffolk district attorney – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  16. ^ "PD43+ » 2018 District Attorney General Election Suffolk District". PD43+.
  17. ^ "Election results 2018 – Mass. race – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  18. ^ Buell, Spencer (November 7, 2018). "Rachael Rollins, Criminal Justice Reformer, Is the New Suffolk DA". Boston Magazine. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  19. ^ Reporter, Maria Cramer-. "Rollins sworn in as Suffolk district attorney – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  20. ^ McDonald, Danny. "Pappas sworn in as Suffolk DA – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  21. ^ "Interim Suffolk DA named". Boston Herald. September 26, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  22. ^ "Suffolk DA Rollins Lays Out Plans For Leniency For Low-Level, Nonviolent Offenses". www.wbur.org. March 26, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  23. ^ Rojas, Rick (June 26, 2019). "5 Key Things to Know About Tiffany Cabán". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  24. ^ "A New Study Reveals that Not Prosecuting People for Nonviolent Misdemeanors May Actually Reduce Crime". Time. May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Estes, Andrea (August 6, 2020). "Sex offender, free on bail, is charged with new rape". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  26. ^ The Editorial Board (August 17, 2020). "Criticism Against Mass. Bail Fund misses the mark". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  27. ^ "Sen. Cruz on Biden Judicial Nominee Rachael Rollins: 'Anyone Who Reads This Document Knows Exactly What Kind of Radical This Prosecutor is' | U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas". www.cruz.senate.gov. September 30, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  28. ^ "District Attorney Rollins Releases Comprehensive Policy Memo". www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com. March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  29. ^ "The Rachael Rollins Policy Memo" (PDF). www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com. March 25, 2019. p. 55-63. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  30. ^ Estes, Andrea (September 23, 2021). "Rachael Rollins confirmation vote for U.S. attorney delayed by GOP senator". www.boston.com. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  31. ^ "Rachael Rollins' US Attorney Nomination Held Up By Republican Senator". CBS Boston. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  32. ^ "Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate of U.S. Attorney Nominations" (Press release). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  33. ^ Puzzanghera, Jim (December 8, 2021). "Senate confirms Rachael Rollins to be US attorney for Massachusetts, making her the first Black woman to hold the office in state history". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  34. ^ Estes, Andrea. "Federal marshals won't provide a security detail for confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins despite recent threats against her life – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "Rachael S. Rollins Sworn in as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts" (Press release). Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  36. ^ Lynch, Sarah N.; Raymond, Nate (March 1, 2023). "Massachusetts U.S. Attorney taps ex-DOJ watchdog to defend her in ethics probe". Reuters. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Thrush, Glenn (May 17, 2023). "Celtics Tickets, Political Revenge: U.S. Attorney Accused of Broad Misconduct". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  38. ^ Kashinsky, Lisa (May 17, 2023). "Federal watchdogs issue scathing reports on U.S. attorney for Massachusetts". POLITICO. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  39. ^ a b c Sobey, Rick (May 17, 2023). "Rachael Rollins committed 'an extraordinary abuse of her power,' US Office of Special Counsel wrote to Biden". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  40. ^ Lynch, Sarah. "Massachusetts U.S. attorney to resign after becoming mired in Justice Dept ethics probe". Reuters. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  41. ^ "Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins to resign after Justice Department watchdog probe". apnews.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  42. ^ "Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins formally resigns in wake of ethics probes". apnews.com. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  43. ^ Farrar, Molly (March 13, 2024). "Former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins suspended from practicing law". Boston.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  44. ^ Cristantiello, Ross. "Former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins regains law license". www.boston.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  45. ^ Cristantiello, Ross. "Former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins has a new job at Roxbury Community College". www.boston.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
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