Close X
Thursday, January 16, 2025
ADVT 
International

Top Indian-american NSA Lawyer Rajesh De Returns To Private Practice

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Mar, 2015 04:58 PM
  • Top Indian-american NSA Lawyer Rajesh De Returns To Private Practice
Indian-American Rajesh "Raj" De has left his post as the top lawyer at the National Security Agency (NSA) to return to private practice as partner at the Washington law firm of Mayer Brown.
 
De, who left the spy agency Friday will rejoin the firm as a partner and head of a 35-lawyer practice in June, the Hill, a news site focusing on the US Congress reported.
 
He first made partner at Mayer Brown in 2007, before leaving for a string of government posts.
 
De, 41, became the agency's general counsel in May 2012, putting him right in the centre of the debate over leaks by former contractor Edward Snowden starting in 2013, the Hill said.
 
"It was the most challenging time in the agency's history," he was quoted as saying in an interview in The Am Law Daily.
 
"Everything was so secret, for so long, that there's still a lot of misinformation about what we do."
 
Prior to his NSA post, De worked in the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy and the White House.
 
The Harvard-trained lawyer "played a role in preserving the status quo" on NSA's controversial surveillance programmes, the Associated Press suggested.
 
However, De in an interview with AP "described an NSA completely at odds with the free-wheeling, all-seeing behemoth depicted by Snowden: a rule-bound, highly regulated entity that treats the private information of Americans with utmost care."
 
"Reasonable folks can disagree about what NSA should or shouldn't be doing," De was quoted as saying.
 
"But this is not a controversy over widespread abuses by a powerful intelligence apparatus, and I don't think that is by accident."
 
De is one of the highest-ranking Indian Americans in government. His parents, both doctors, immigrated to Philadelphia with $16 to their names, he said.

MORE International ARTICLES

China's ancient, commercially savvy Shaolin Temple seeks media directors to further grow brand

China's ancient, commercially savvy Shaolin Temple seeks media directors to further grow brand
Help wanted: Ancient Buddhist temple famed for its kung fu monks seeks media directors to build brand. English and social media skills required. Not necessary to be a monk, practice martial arts or eat vegetarian.

China's ancient, commercially savvy Shaolin Temple seeks media directors to further grow brand

Father Of Georgia Toddler Left In Hot Car Charged With Murder In His Son's Death

Father Of Georgia Toddler Left In Hot Car Charged With Murder In His Son's Death
ATLANTA - More than two months after his son's death in a hot car, a Georgia man who prosecutors say sat in his office exchanging nude photos with women while his son languished for hours was charged with murder on Thursday.

Father Of Georgia Toddler Left In Hot Car Charged With Murder In His Son's Death

US, Iran resume bilateral n-talks

US, Iran resume bilateral n-talks
The meeting between the two sides came after Iran and the P5+1 group comprising the US, China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany failed...

US, Iran resume bilateral n-talks

'Protesters to shift to new site in Islamabad'

'Protesters to shift to new site in Islamabad'
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), the two political parties staging anti-government protests for about three...

'Protesters to shift to new site in Islamabad'

Al Qaeda to launch Indian branch: Report

Al Qaeda to launch Indian branch: Report
Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has announced in a video message the creation of an Indian branch of his militant group to "raise the flag of jihad" across South Asia, a media report said....

Al Qaeda to launch Indian branch: Report

Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat

Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat
US President Barack Obama will convene a Security Council summit on "growing and dangerous phenomenon" of foreign terrorist fighters, American...

Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat