As U.S. assistant attorney general for the National Security Division,Demers was the top official for national security at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).[2] During his tenure in the NSD,he was selected by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to lead the China Initiative and oversaw counterespionage operations in foreign intelligence. Although nominated by President Donald Trump,he also served under the Biden administration,where he was the longest-serving Senate-confirmed official from the Trump administration that was retained.[3]
Demer's exit from the Justice Department garnered attention when the 2017–2018 Department of Justice metadata seizures became publicly known in June 2021,which coincided with his departure. He was eventually succeeded by Matthew G. Olsen.[4] Demers returned to work at Boeing afterward,where he previously had been a vice president and general counsel leading the company's international defense,space,and security affairs.[5]
Early life and education
Demers was born on September 21,1971,in Gubbio,Italy.[6] His parents are Pina and Frank Demers,and he came from a family of teachers.[7] Demers attended the College of the Holy Cross,where he majored in political science and Italian studies and received the college's Maurizio Vannicelli Prize.[8] He graduated from Holy Cross with his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.),magna cum laude,in 1993 with membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the Jesuit honor society Alpha Sigma Nu.[9][6]
Senator Cory Gardner,who stated in January 2018 that he would block some appointments to the DOJ,announced on February 15,2018,that he would not block Demer's nomination.[21] Demers was confirmed to the position by a voice vote later that month.[22][23] His appointment to the head of the NSD on February 22,2018,garnered praise from both Democrats and Republicans as he had worked under the administrations of both parties.[3] The appointment was also welcomed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.[24]
Tenure
When Demers became the head of the national security division,the U.S. had recently experienced Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[25] Throughout his tenure,issues of national security would be focused on Robert Mueller and the Mueller special counsel investigation. The DOJ would also concentrate on counterintelligence against Chinese influence in academia and research.[3] Under Demer's leadership,the division brought espionage cases against both Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals,charged Russian accountant Elena Khusyaynova for interfering in the 2018 elections,and brought charges against a Turkish bank for violating sanctions placed on Iran.[26] While in office,he was considered among the most apolitical officials appointed by Trump.[2]
On October 28,2020,Demers announced the indictment of eight individuals conspiring to act as Chinese agents
In November 2018,the U.S. Department of Justice launched the "China Initiative."[27] The program aimed to counter Chinese espionage and intelligence activities in the U.S.[28][29] Attorney General Jeff Sessions selected Demers to lead the initiative.[27]
The China Initiative was intended to enable the National Security Division to combat Chinese intellectual property theft,surveillance,and other classified national security threats. According to The New York Times,Demer's effort to focus law enforcement resources as part of the program made the initiative his "signature achievement."[3] The department would prosecute cases involving targeted economic information and charged hackers accused of being affiliated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA),which was involved in the 2017 Equifax data breach.[3] These initiatives were continued by the Department of Justice under Demer's nominated successor,Matthew Olsen,until he would later announce its termination in 2022 amid criticism for racial profiling.[30]
On January 20,2021,acting attorney general Jeffrey A. Rosen resigned,and it became expected that Monty Wilkinson would serve in the position until Biden's nominee,Merrick Garland,could assume the office. Before Biden signed an executive order naming Wilkinson to succeed Rosen,Demers served as acting attorney general for a few hours that day in the meantime. Demers normally would have also been Rosen's successor,but Biden,relying on a Trump-era precedent,appointed Wilkinson instead.[31] As acting attorney general,Demers was the top official in the Justice Department to approve orders relating to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).[32]
That same month,Demers considered resigning from his position when President Donald Trump pressured the Justice Department to pursue claims of election fraud,though he ultimately decided to remain when acting attorney general Jeffrey A. Rosen resisted pressure from the White House to investigate claims of fraud. When the Trump presidency ended,Demers continued to lead the National Security Division under President Joe Biden. He was the only senior Justice Department official from the Trump administration to remain under the Biden administration.[33] He was asked by acting United States Deputy Attorney GeneralJohn P. Carlin to remain in the department in order to provide continuity as it would have been months before a new leader for the National Security Division could be confirmed.[3] Senior officials at the agency also repeatedly asked him to remain.[4]
Departure
On June 14,2021,Demers announced that he would be stepping down as head of the National Security Division. Though his departure was planned months earlier,it came amid controversy regarding leaks of classified information that were being investigated,during which prosecutors seized records from The New York Times,The Washington Post,and CNN.[3] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to subpoena Demers and called on him to testify before Congress along with Jeff Sessions and William Barr.[34][35]
According to NBC News,Demers was likely to have been briefed about the Justice Department's subpoenas to reporters,though a senior official stated that his departure was unrelated to the incident.[36] President Biden nominated Matthew G. Olsen to replace him;Demers left the department as its longest-serving Senate-confirmed official from the Trump administration during Biden's presidency.[3]Mark Lesko,the acting Brooklyn U.S. Attorney,temporarily succeeded Demers on an acting basis until Matthew G. Olsen was confirmed by the United States Senate and sworn in as Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division on a permanent basis.[37]
Personal life
Demers is married to Cynthia Marie Zmijewski Demers and has two children,Lizzie and Matthew.[7][9] After leaving the NSD,it was announced on August 31,2021,that Demers would return to Boeing as a vice president in a unique role created by the company.[38] As of February 2024,he is a member of Boeing's legal counsel and serves as the company secretary.[39][40]
Richardson, Hila; Califano Jr., Joseph A.; Tapper, Donna; Demers, John (1996). "Substance Abuse and Public Health in Urban America: Analysis of Costs in New York City". Current Issues in Public Health. 2 (98).
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