FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 33-23

December 19, 2023

DNI Haines Statement on the Confirmation of
The Honorable Christopher C. Fonzone as Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines today issued the following statement:

“Congratulations to The Honorable Christopher C. Fonzone on his confirmation as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. Chris is a brilliant legal scholar and, even more importantly, a wonderful human being. His confirmation is well deserved, albeit bittersweet for those of us in the Intelligence Community because it means he no longer will serve as ODNI's General Counsel. As we wish Chris all the best in his new leadership role at DOJ, we thank him for his sage advice, calm demeanor, and commitment to the rule of law. His service as ODNI General Counsel will have a lasting impact and is all the more noteworthy given the authorities entrusted to the IC. We have depended on Chris time and time again for timely, practical, and sound counsel on some of the toughest questions facing the country and I am incredibly heartened to know that his exceptional judgment will now be relied upon by the Attorney General in this incredibly important position.

“Again, all my congratulations to Chris!”

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