John Cummings

Background

About John Cummings

With 20+ years of high-stakes litigation experience, I bring a deep well of expertise in managing complex investigations, litigation strategy, and policy development. My career has encompassed some of the most sensitive and high-profile legal matters in national security, federal civil rights, and criminal law, where I have consistently delivered results with precision and integrity. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia for 22 years, I led major prosecutions involving terrorism, espionage, and violent crimes, including securing convictions in landmark cases such as the prosecution of a Libyan national responsible for the Benghazi attack and the first successful prosecution of a federal officer for a federal civil rights violation. In my most recent role as a Supervisory Attorney at the Office of the Pardon Attorney, I led a team of attorneys conducting in-depth investigations to make recommendations to the President on federal clemency applications. Previously, as Assistant Counsel for the Office of Professional Responsibility, I handled high-profile internal investigations into attorney misconduct and whistleblower claims. Key Strengths: Litigation & Trial Strategy: Over 25 felony jury trials as lead counsel with a 90%+ conviction rate. Investigations & Compliance: Led 100+ grand jury investigations into national security, regulatory violations, and violent crimes. Policy & Ethics: Conducted internal investigations into DOJ attorney conduct, ensuring compliance with ethical and professional standards. Leadership & Mentorship: Managed and mentored teams of 50+ attorneys in high-stakes litigation and investigations. National Security & Criminal Law: Extensive experience with international & domestic terrorism, counter-espionage, FARA, and OFAC. Notable Achievements: Secured the first-ever conviction in D.C. for a federal civil rights violation involving excessive force by a federal agent. Spearheaded a counter-espionage investigation that thwarted an insider threat to U.S. military personnel in Iraq. Reduced DOJ’s clemency backlog of over cases through strategic leadership and operational efficiency improvements. Recognized with multiple awards, including the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service and the Counterintelligence Investigations Award. I am currently seeking to leverage my extensive experience in government investigations and litigation strategy in a senior legal or compliance role within a mission-driven organization. Feel free to reach out via LinkedIn.