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William J. Hochul Jr.

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William J. Hochul Jr.
First Gentleman of New York
Assumed role
August 24, 2021
GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded bySandra Lee (2019; de facto First Lady)
Second Gentleman of New York
In role
January 1, 2015 – August 23, 2021
Lieutenant GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded byBarbara Duffy
(as Second Lady)
Succeeded byCathleen Benjamin
(as Second Lady)
United States Attorney for the
Western District of New York
In office
March 15, 2010 – October 29, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byTerrance Flynn
Succeeded byJames P. Kennedy Jr.
Personal details
Born (1959-04-01) April 1, 1959 (age 65)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1984)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
University at Buffalo (JD)
NicknameBill Hochul

William J. Hochul Jr. (/ˈhoʊkəl/ HOH-kəl; born April 1, 1959) is an American lawyer who served as United States attorney for the Western District of New York from 2010 to 2016. Hochul has been the first gentleman of New York since August 2021, when his wife, Kathy Hochul, ascended to the governorship following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. He was previously the Second Gentleman while his wife was lieutenant governor from 2015 to 2021.[1]

Hochul is currently counsel at international law firm Davis Polk.[2]

Early life and education

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William J. Hochul Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York on April 1, 1959.[3] His grandparents were Catholic immigrants from Poland.[4] He graduated from Cheektowaga Central High School in Cheektowaga, New York, just outside Buffalo.[5] Hochul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from State University of New York at Buffalo in 1984.[6]

Career

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Hochul served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Western District of New York from 1991 to 2010.[3] During that time, he served as chief of the Anti-Terrorism Unit from 2002 to 2007 and as chief of the National Security Division from 2007 to 2010.[6]

In 1994, while assistant attorney, Hochul served as an adversary in the trial of Sly Green and 27 members of his gang, the L.A. Boys. Green was sentenced to 4 life sentences, plus 110 years in prison.[7] In 1996, he also served as an adversary for the murder trial of George "Dog" Powell, another member of the L.A. Boys.[8]

William J. Hochul Jr. was one of the 18 members of the Buffalo Joint Terrorism Task Force awarded the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service, the highest award of the Department of Justice, for "their exemplary performance in the dismantlement of the Lackawanna, New York terrorist cell" which resulted in the 2003 convictions of six Yemeni-American for providing material support to Al-Qaeda.[9][10][11] Hochul is also generally recognized as the first prosecutor to use the nation's racketeering laws to dismantle violent street gangs.[12][13]

Hochul's official portrait, 2011

DOJ report on employment rejection

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In 2006, William J. Hochul Jr. unsuccessfully applied to a counterterrorism position in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys.[10] A 2008 report by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General revealed that Hochul's appointment was one of several appointments that were inappropriately blocked by G.W. Bush's Department of Justice official Monica Goodling due to political considerations.[14] The report found that Hochul was passed over in favor of "a much less experienced, but politically acceptable, attorney".[14] Hochul, who has variously registered to vote as both an independent and Democrat, is married to Kathleen C. Hochul, a longtime, politically-active Democrat.[14] The report concluded that Goodling found Hochul objectionable "because of his and his wife's political affiliation" and instead appointed a registered Republican who lacked counterterrorism experience and did not have the requisite five years of experience as a federal prosecutor.[14]

U.S. Attorney

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On December 23, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Hochul to serve as the United States attorney for the Western District of New York.[6] He was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent on March 10, 2010.[15] According to the Am-Pol Eagle, Hochul is the first Polish-American to serve as a federal prosecutor for Western New York State.[16]

Later career

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In 2016, Hochul became senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary to Delaware North, a hospitality and gambling company.[17][18]

In 2024, Hochul became Counsel at Davis Polk, in the firm's white collar defense and investigations practice in New York.[19]

Personal life

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Hochul is married to former congresswoman and current New York governor Kathy Hochul,[20] who previously served as the county clerk of Erie County, New York from 2007 to 2011.[21] They have two children.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "William J. Hochul Jr., husband of Kathy Hochul, to become New York's first 'First Gentleman'". NEWS10 ABC. August 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Tribe, Meghan (January 2, 2024). "William Hochul Joins Davis Polk After Delaware North Departure". Bloomberg Law – via www.bloomberglaw.com.
  3. ^ a b Woodrow, Stephanie (January 18, 2010). "Meet William J. Hochul Jr". Main Justice. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Kathy Hochul [@ltgovhochulny] (April 22, 2019). "New York is home to the largest Polish-American population in the nation. All of my husband's grandparents emigrated from Poland, bringing their traditions — so I'm well familiar with great celebrations like #DyngusDay — a rite of Spring that follows Easter. Happy Dyngus Day!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Gramigna, Glenn (November 26, 2008). "As political winds change, supporters wait to see if Hochul gets appointment". Am-Pol Eagle. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (December 24, 2009). "President Obama Nominates Seven U.S. Attorneys". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2011 – via National Archives.
  7. ^ "'SLY' GREEN DESCRIBED AS BLOODTHIRSTY BOASTED ABOUT GANG, PROSECUTOR TELLS COURT". October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Gunman in L.A. Boys Drug Gang Convicted in Fed Case". The Buffalo News. September 14, 1996. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "#424: 07-30-03 ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT HONORS EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY". www.justice.gov.
  10. ^ a b Ramonas, Andrew (May 21, 2010). "Buffalo's New U.S. Attorney Keeps DOJ in Sight". Main Justice. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  11. ^ McCarthy, Robert J.; Herbeck, Dan (May 5, 2009). "William Hochul nominated for U.S. Attorney for WNY". The Buffalo News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  12. ^ "Hochul looks back after retirement".
  13. ^ "Obama-appointed prosecutor steps down".
  14. ^ a b c d Zremski, Jerry (July 29, 2008). "Politics blocked 2 promotions at Justice". The Buffalo News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  15. ^ Zremski, Jerry (March 12, 2010). "Hochul confirmed as U.S. attorney". The Buffalo News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  16. ^ "The Am-Pol Eagle". ampoleagle.com.
  17. ^ Watson, Stephen P. (August 11, 2021). "Kathy Hochul's husband will stay at Delaware North despite potential conflict of interest". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Bredderman, William (August 11, 2021). "NY's New Guv Is Staring at a Massive Conflict of Interest". The Daily Beast – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  19. ^ Tribe, Meghan (January 2, 2024). "William Hochul Joins Davis Polk After Delaware North Departure". Bloomberg Law – via www.bloomberglaw.com.
  20. ^ University at Buffalo Law School, Office of Alumni Relations (April 2010). "Bill Hochul '84 confirmed as U.S. attorney for Western New York". UB Law Links. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  21. ^ Spina, Matthew (November 3, 2010). "Hochul Re-elected County Clerk". The Buffalo News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  22. ^ Vielkind, Jimmy; Honan, Katie (August 10, 2021). "Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to Become New York's First Female Governor". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by
Terrance P. Flynn
 United States Attorney for the Western District of New York
2010–2016 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Gentleman of New York
2021–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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