John Giordano (lawyer)
John Giordano | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Ambassador to Namibia Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Randy Berry |
| United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey | |
Acting | |
| In office March 3, 2025 – March 24, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Philip R. Sellinger Vikas Khanna (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Alina Habba (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977–1978 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Villanova University (BA, JD) |
John Giordano (born 1977 or 1978)[1] is an American lawyer who served as the acting United States attorney for the District of New Jersey for three weeks in March 2025. He was subsequently nominated by Donald Trump to be ambassador to Namibia, pending confirmation by the Senate.
Early life
Giordano grew up in Burlington County, New Jersey,[2] the son of Dorothy and Frank Giordano, a former president of Philadelphia's Union League and the Philly Pops.[3] He attended Villanova University for both his undergraduate education and law school, and he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society in 1998.[4] After graduating, he clerked for Judge Joseph E. Irenas of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.[5]
Career
After finishing his clerkship, Giordano was an associate at the law firm DLA Piper before becoming a partner at Archer & Greiner, a firm in Philadelphia.[5] During the second term of President George W. Bush, Giordano served in the United States Department of Energy, U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.[5][6]
In 2011, Giordano briefly ran for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council before dropping out.[7][8] After serving as deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Giordano worked as assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Giordano also taught at the University of Pennsylvania Law School during this period.[5]
After Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, Giordano assisted the first presidential transition of Donald Trump, serving as deputy general counsel.[6] In 2019, Trump appointed Giordano as an American representative at the 74th United Nations General Assembly.[5][6]
On March 3, 2025, Trump appointed Giordano as acting United States attorney for the District of New Jersey after New Jersey State Senator Doug Steinhardt declined the position.[2] Giordano succeeded Vikas Khanna, who had assumed the position upon the resignation of Philip R. Sellinger on December 8, 2024.[2]
On March 24, Trump announced that Counselor to the President Alina Habba would take over effective immediately as acting U.S. attorney, with Giordano potentially being nominated to become United States ambassador to Namibia.[9]
Personal life
In 2017, Giordano married Yasmina Maracealle Moukarzel at Philadelphia's St. Mark's Episcopal Church.[3][10] In 2019, Giordano reportedly gave the Trump Victory team the largest single donation from the Philadelphia area, a total of $25,000.[3]
Giordano is a member of the White House Historical Association's National Council.[11] During the 2024 United States elections, Giordano made significant donations to Republican candidates, including Donald Trump's presidential campaign.[5]
References
- ^ Wildstein, David (March 2, 2025). "For N.J. U.S. Attorney slot, Trump loyalist from Philadelphia in the mix". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c Wildstein, David (March 3, 2025). "Giordano sworn in as acting U.S. Attorney for N.J." New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c Fiorillo, Victor (July 2, 2020). "Here's How Philly's Rich and Famous Are Spending Their Political Dollars". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "John Giordano Sworn In As 64th U.S. Attorney For District Of New Jersey". United States Department of Justice. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Wildstein, David (March 2, 2025). "For N.J. U.S. Attorney slot, Trump loyalist from Philadelphia in the mix". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c Biryukov, Nikita (March 5, 2025). "New Jersey gets new chief federal prosecutor". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ Shields, Jeff (January 31, 2011). "City Council races: Where the money is". Inquirer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "PoliticsPA's Philly City Council Election Preview - PoliticsPA". www.politicspa.com. January 18, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (March 24, 2025). "Trump names Alina Habba, his former defense lawyer, as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Yasmina Moukarzel, John Giordano". The New York Times. October 1, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "John Giordano". White House Historical Association. Retrieved March 6, 2025.