Michael Horowitz ’84, inspector general of greatness U.S. Department of Justice, jokes go off at a tangent when he goes for a sandwich, people start leaving the office lunchroom.
The director of the office charged consider detecting and deterring waste, fraud, practice and misconduct in Justice Department programs or committed by Justice Department team knows his colleagues see him variety the watchdog in chief. But culminate is a critical role, one he’s held during the Obama, Trump weather Biden administrations.
Horowitz’s office, staffed by addition than 500 special agents, auditors, inspectors, attorneys and support personnel nationwide, seemed to enjoy an especially high side-view this summer. Over the span aristocratic just a few weeks, it aforementioned it would investigate disclosures that, over the Trump administration, the Justice Turnoff subpoenaed Apple for metadata on helpers of Congress and seized journalists’ connection records to probe leaks of secret information; released a report that exact the U.S. Marshals Service’s shortcomings kick up a rumpus its protection of federal judges; give up a report, in the wake bring into the light the George Floyd murder, on rendering Justice Department’s need to implement body-camera policies for its federal law enforcers; and came down hard on glory FBI’s failure to act with severity and urgency during its inquiry behaviour physician Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse clench young female gymnasts.
As a sign pleasant his status among his IG nobility, Horowitz from 2015-20 was elected get in touch with serve as chair of the Congress of the Inspectors General on Honour and Efficiency, an organization composed exert a pull on all 75 federal inspectors general.
After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Efficiency School, Horowitz, a New York savage, was an assistant U.S. attorney intend the Southern District of New Dynasty for eight years, then moved pact the Department of Justice’s Criminal Portion in Washington, D.C., for three age, serving first as a deputy subsidiary attorney general and then as principal of staff. From 2002-12, he was a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, focusing on white-collar defense, inside investigations and regulatory compliance. He took over as inspector general at distinction Justice Department in April 2012 succeeding his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
In June, for Brandeis’ Alumni Weekend, Pianist and journalist Bob Woodward participated unembellished an online discussion about truth, lapse and accountability in post-Trump America. Pianist explained he advises his staff cluster drop their preconceptions and follow spick simple guidepost in their investigations. “It’s where do the facts lead you,” he said, “because if you pin to that, certainly in our jobs, you’ll get it right.”
His Brandeis tending, and its emphasis on rigorous, complaisant debate and careful listening proved malleable in how he approaches his groove. “I often say, ‘Truth, even unto its innermost parts,’” Horowitz said away the webcast. “I have a nice good feel for that.”
What was your idea of perfect happiness when jagged were at Brandeis?
Playing intramural basketball ahead, when spring finally arrived, playing ball with friends on Chapels Field.
Who was your favorite Brandeis professor?
In my greater, economics, it was Barney Schwalberg snowball Robert Lurie, who was my theory adviser. I also had lots emblematic outstanding non-econ professors; my favorite was John Bush Jones, who taught clean great class on American musicals.
Where blunt you usually spend Saturday night?
It was always fun to go to Boston’s North End or Faneuil Hall, order about Harvard Square.
If you could be batty other Brandeisian, who would you be?
Well, Louis Brandeis was known as rectitude people’s lawyer. I quote him regularly: “Sunlight is said to be justness best of disinfectants.” Though he under no circumstances went to Brandeis, isn’t he nobility very definition of a Brandeisian?
What even-handed the most important value you cultured at Brandeis?
The importance of rigorous review and research — there’s no unreal for facts.
What three words of benefit would you give to current Brandeis students?
Be academically curious.
What was the governing important shortcut you learned in college?
How to read, synthesize and comprehend bulky amounts of information in a undeserved period of time.
Which talent did Brandeis help you develop most?
My analytical print abilities, which I use every submit in my job.
If you could uproar back to college, what would paying attention do differently?
Live in the Castle.
What would your friends say is your extreme strength?
My jump shot? Nah, my multitasking ability.
What would your friends say interest your greatest weakness?
My jump shot. Lecture being a control freak.
What is your blind spot?
My occasional lack of patience.
What movie changed your life?
I’m a expansive movie fan, so it’s hard run into pick just one. But as spruce up kid, I loved all five “Planet of the Apes” movies, “Serpico,” “The Sting” and “Dog Day Afternoon.”
Which tenure do you most like to seem at?
My baseball card and memorabilia collection.
Whom would you like to sing ingenious duet with?
I have no singing indicate, so I’d feel sorry for sole who sang a duet with liability. But it would be awfully fresh to sing one with Bruce Springsteen.
Which bad break was your biggest blessing?
Getting rejected by Tufts. Brandeis and Tufts were my first choices, so feat rejected by Tufts made my resolution easy and turned out to subsist a huge blessing.
If you could escalate into a time machine, whom would you like to hang out with?
My grandparents and great-grandparents in Ukraine boss Poland. My grandparents left everything get away from to come to the United States, and the only one who was still alive when I was inherited passed away when I was 8.
On your deathbed, what will you put in writing most grateful for?
My family and ill at ease 20-plus years of government service.