Former federal prosecutors to discuss Russian probe Monday night
West Hartford — What do those in the know about federal investigations think about the ongoing probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election?
Two of Connecticut's former U.S. attorneys, Deirdre Daly and Kevin O'Connor, will discuss the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller at a forum at 6:30 Monday in the Crystal Room of Mercy Hall at the University of St. Joseph at 1678 Asylum Ave. The public is invited.
Daly and O'Connor will discuss the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants, the recusal of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's appointment of former FBI Director and U.S. Attorney Robert Mueller as special counsel.
They will take questions from the audience.
"We welcome the Greater Hartford community to join us as we learn more from two legal experts about the current federal investigation regarding the 2016 presidential election," said University of Saint Joseph President Rhona Free in a press release.
Nikos Valance, director of the university's Program in Criminal and Restorative Justice, will moderate the discussion. Margaret E. Kelley, state's attorney of the Ansonia/Milford judicial district and a St. Joseph alumna, will introduce Daly, O'Connor and Valance.
Daly, who works at the Finn Dixon & Herling law firm in Stamford, is a member of the firm's Government & Internal Investigations and Litigation practice groups. She was the state's 51st U.S. Attorney and the first woman appointed to lead the office, which was established in 1789.
During her term as U.S. Attorney from 2013-17, Daly was appointed by the Attorney General of the United States to serve as a member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. Earlier in her career, she served for 12 years as a prosecutor and supervisor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
O'Connor is Chief Legal Officer for Point72, a Stamford-based hedge fund. He joined Point72 in June 2015 from United Technologies Corporation (UTC), where he served as Vice President of Global Ethics & Compliance. Prior to joining UTC, O'Connor was a partner and chair of the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. Previously, he served as United States Attorney for Connecticut from 2002-08 and as Associate Attorney General of the United States from 2008-09. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, O'Connor also served as Associate Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Staff to the Attorney General, and chair of the Department's Intellectual Property Task Force.
Registration is required for the event and can be done at http://giving.usj.edu/StudentSpeakerSeries or by calling or emailing Chrstina Southward at (860) 231-5291 or csouthward@usj.edu.
A private reception is taking place prior to the event, at 5:15 p.m., with entertainment provided by Rick Reyes of the Cosmic Jibaros.
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