David Pressman

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For the American immunologist, see David Pressman (scientist).
David Pressman
David Pressman, U.S. Ambassador.jpg
United States Ambassador to Hungary
Assumed office
September 14, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byDavid B. Cornstein
United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
In office
September 17, 2014 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJeffrey DeLaurentis
Succeeded byvacant
Personal details
Born1977 (age 45–46)
EducationBrown University (BA)
New York University (JD)

David Pressman (born 1977) is an American lawyer who has served as the United States ambassador to Hungary since 2022. He is a partner at Jenner & Block, where he works in various areas of mostly international and US Constitutional law.[1] He previously served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs. He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2014.[2] Ambassador Pressman represented the United States at the United Nations Security Council and in related negotiations.[3] An international human rights lawyer, Pressman has represented victims of terrorism,[4] American hostages held overseas,[5] dissidents and journalists targeted by authoritarian regimes,[6] among others.

Biography

Raised in a Jewish family,[7] Pressman received his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 2004, where he graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif.[7] He clerked for the Supreme Court of Rwanda - where he evaluated post-genocide transitional justice initiatives - and at the Southern Poverty Law Center.[7] He then served as a press lead for the Clinton administration.[7]

Pressman is an American human rights lawyer and former aide to United States Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright. He has advised a number of highly visible individuals on foreign policy and related advocacy strategies.[8] In 2008 Los Angeles Times referred to him as George Clooney's "consigliere."[8][9] With George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub, Pressman co-founded Not On Our Watch Project, a leading advocacy and grant-making organization focused on raising awareness about mass-atrocities.[10]

Pressman served as an assistant secretary of Homeland Security, and was responsible for policy development on global criminal justice issues at DHS.[11][12][13] He also served as the Director for War Crimes and Atrocities on the White House National Security Council, where he coordinated the government's efforts to prevent and respond to mass atrocities, genocide, and war crimes.[14][15] Pressman served as a member of President Obama's Atrocities Prevention Board.[16]

Nomination for Ambassador to Hungary

On May 13, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Pressman to be the next United States ambassador to Hungary.[17] On May 17, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[18] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 23, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on July 19, 2022. On July 28, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by a 61–30 vote.[19] He was sworn in on August 8, 2022,[20] and presented his credentials to President Katalin Novák on September 14, 2022.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pressman, David. "David Pressman". Jenner & Block LLP. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  2. ^ "PN1772 - Nomination of David Pressman for Department of State, 113th Congress (2013-2014)". www.congress.gov. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Homepage".
  4. ^ Frankel, Alison (2021-10-04). "Malaysia Air victims can move forward with terror lawsuit against Russian banks". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  5. ^ Jennifer Hansler and Chandelis Duster. "Two American siblings allowed to return from China after three years following lifting of exit ban". CNN. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  6. ^ Quan, Douglas (2020-08-06). "Saudi hit squad was sent to Toronto to try to kill former intel official, lawsuit alleges". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  7. ^ a b c d New York University Law School Alumnus/Alumna of the Month: David Pressman November 2006 | "We must stop kidding ourselves with silly sayings like “never again” — something that was almost a mantra in my Jewish home— and begin to acknowledge that “it” is happening again, and again and again."
  8. ^ a b "George Clooney depends on 'Cuz'". Los Angeles Times. 2 May 2008.
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times: "George Clooney depends on 'Cuz'" by TINA DAUNT Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine May 2, 2008
  10. ^ "Not on Our Watch Project website". Archived from the original on 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  11. ^ "USAID Tech Challenge". Archived from the original on 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  12. ^ "DHS Leadership". 7 September 2006.
  13. ^ "State Department Remarks at Global Counterterrorism Forum". Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  14. ^ Huffington post: "Obama Hires a Clooney Confidant - David Pressman took George Clooney on his first trip to Darfur. Now Obama’s hired him to a new position to help combat genocide and mass atrocities" by Sandra McElwaine April 13, 2010
  15. ^ "Obama Takes Steps to Stop Atrocity Crimes". 30 November 2001.
  16. ^ "USAID Bio". Archived from the original on 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  17. ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees" (Press release). The White House. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate". The White House. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  19. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: David Pressman, of New York, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to Hungary )". United States Senate. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Ambassador David Pressman". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  21. ^ Pressman, David [@USAmbHungary] (September 14, 2022). "It was an honor to present my credentials to President @KatalinNovakMP as Ambassador of the United States of America to Hungary" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Twitter.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
2014–2019 		Vacant
Preceded by
Marc Dillard
Chargé d'Affaires
 United States Ambassador to Hungary
2022–present 		Incumbent
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