Robert E. O' Neill, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced Thursday morning that he plans to resign this summer. He's leaving his post to take a job with the Freeh Group International Solutions, a global risk management firm with corporate offices in Washington, DC, New York and Wilmington, Del.
In 2010, O'Neill was an assistant U.S. attorney based in Tampa when President Barack Obama recruited him for his current job. The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida is the top prosecutor for more than half of the state, including Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers. It's one of the busiest such offices in the country.
Here's the text of O'Neill's resignation statement, as posted on the United States Department of Justice website:
I would like to thank President Obama, U.S. Attorney General Holder, Senators Nelson and Rubio, and former Senators Martinez and LeMieux for providing me the opportunity to serve as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. I appreciate the confidence which they exhibited in me and I hope and trust that I, and this office, have lived up to their expectations. I am very thankful for having been given this wonderful opportunity. It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as the United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida. This is a great office. Statistically, the Middle District of Florida is one of the busiest and most productive districts in the nation. It ranks at or near the top of the 94 districts in virtually every category maintained by the United States Department of Justice. Yet, while serving the second largest population in the nation, it is the 16th largest office in terms of personnel. The significant accomplishments of this district are the result of the collective efforts of the hard working men and women who comprise this United States Attorney’s Office. They are dedicated public servants who believe in pursuing justice and the rule of law. In an era in which it has become fashionable to impugn the public employee, the individuals in this office work long hours, often without recompense, simply because they believe in the mission of the office. I was offered an extremely unique opportunity to join the Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC. It was an offer that I could not pass upon. The Freeh Group is an global risk management firm serving in the areas of business integrity and compliance, safety and security, and investigations and due diligence. The firm was founded by Louis J. Freeh, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and former United States District Judge. In order to accept that position, I have to resign from a position that is extraordinarily rewarding. My resignation is effective this summer. I will continue in my present position for the next few months to ensure an orderly transition for this office and for my successor.
