Amy Jeffress
US lawyer and former Justice Department official; advised Israeli ministries on FARA while at Arnold & Porter
| Amy Jeffress
| |
|---|---|
| Image | 
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Lawyer; partner at Hecker Fink |
| Known for | National security and FARA practice; former Counselor to Attorney General Eric Holder |
| Website | heckerfink.com |
Amy Jeffress is an American lawyer and former US Department of Justice official who advises clients on national security matters and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).[1] According to leaked Israeli Ministry of Justice documents, Israeli officials considered hiring her in 2018 to advise on FARA. In 2021 they asked her and Arnold & Porter colleagues to review the Concert renewal for FARA risks.[2][3]
Career
Arnold & Porter announced on 16 April 2014 that Jeffress had joined as a partner in its white-collar defence and national security practices. It said she had most recently been the Justice Department's Attaché at the US Embassy in London. Before that she had served as Counselor to Attorney General Eric Holder, as an Assistant US Attorney in the District of Columbia (including two years as chief of the National Security Section), and as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General.[4] She is now a partner at Hecker Fink LLP in Washington. The firm says she advises on export enforcement, the FCPA, "classified and leaked information" and FARA.[1]
Advice to the Israeli government
In April 2024 the hacking group Anonymous for Justice released Israel Ministry of Justice documents, which were later published by Distributed Denial of Secrets. Their authenticity has not been independently verified.[5] According to these documents:
- January 2018. The Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy asked for an exemption to hire a US law firm to advise on FARA. Three firms were rated. Arnold & Porter, with Jeffress as the lawyer, came second at 85 per cent and US$855 an hour, behind Robert Kelner of Covington & Burling. The contract eventually went to Sandler Reiff.[2]
- 1–3 December 2021. Marlene Mazel of the Ministry of Justice and a Foreign Ministry lawyer wrote to John Bellinger, Jeffress and a colleague at Arnold & Porter. They explained that "insofar as funding may be relayed to organizations situated in the US, there is an interest in not running afoul of FARA legislation and regulations". They asked the firm to review the government decision renewing Concert. A fee of US$8,000–12,000 was agreed.[3]
See also
- John Bellinger
- Robert Kelner
- Sandler Reiff
- Concert - Together for Israel
- Ministry of Justice (Israel)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hecker Fink LLP, Amy Jeffress heckerfink.com, accessed 22 October 2026. Hecker Fink-side.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Israel Ministry of Justice leak (Distributed Denial of Secrets), Ministry of Strategic Affairs revised exemption request (form T-93) to engage a US law firm on FARA, updated 24 January 2018 (Hebrew), Library of Leaks entity 9397718 Library of Leaks, accessed 21 October 2026. Leaked document; authenticity not independently verified.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Israel Ministry of Justice leak (Distributed Denial of Secrets), email exchange between the Ministry of Justice, the Foreign Ministry and Arnold & Porter, 1–3 December 2021, Library of Leaks entity 10945460 Library of Leaks, accessed 21 October 2026. Leaked document; authenticity not independently verified.
- ↑ Arnold & Porter, Former Justice Department Prosecutor and National Security Official Amy Jeffress Joins Arnold & Porter arnoldporter.com, 16 April 2014, accessed 22 October 2026. Arnold & Porter-side.
- ↑ Distributed Denial of Secrets, Israel Ministry of Justice ddosecrets.org, 25 July 2024, accessed 21 October 2026. DDoSecrets lists the dataset in its "Cyberwar" category, warning of "an increased chance of malware, ulterior motives and altered or implanted data".