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Top GOP Staffer for Senate Judiciary Panel to Leave

By Andrew Ramonas

The top Republican staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee will step down on Friday, the ranking GOP senator on the panel said Thursday.

Staff Director Brian Benczkowski will join the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, according to an individual familiar with his plans. He served as the top Senate Judiciary Committee aide to Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, after the senator succeeded Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) in spring 2009 as the ranking panel Republican.

“I?m going to miss Brian a lot,” Sessions said at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday. “I rely on him and depend on him.?

Benczkowski held various posts at the Justice Department during the George W. Bush administration, including chief of staff to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs and Chief of Staff at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He also served as a majority counsel on the House Judiciary Committee under then-Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.)

Deputy Staff Director Matt Miner will take over Benczkowski’s responsibilities.

Full post as published by Main Justice on September 16, 2010 (boomark / email).