For years, Noel Francisco has worked behind the scenes for two Republican Presidents, largely avoiding the spotlight.
Now, all eyes are on him.
Francisco, the current Solicitor General in the United States Department of Justice, is slated to take over supervision of the investigation of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election should Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein resign or be fired by Trump, both of which are believed to be distinct possibilities soon.
Noel Francisco could have a major impact on the Russia probe if Rosenstein resigns or is fired
But just who is Noel Francisco? Here’s all you need to know about him.
Who is Noel Francisco?
Noel Francisco is an attorney who currently serves in the Donald Trump administration as the Solicitor General of the United States. Notably, he’s the first Asian-American confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the position, being of Filipino descent.
He was born in Syracuse, New York on August 21, 1969 and raised in the city of Oswego, New York.
Francisco attended Brandeis University in Massachusetts and later the University of Chicago, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later received his Juris Doctor in 1996 from the University of Chicago Law School and then worked as a law clerk on the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Later, Francisco worked for the law firm Cooper & Kirk and also for the George W. Bush administration starting in 2001, first as an Associate Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the President before serving in the Office of Legal Counsel for the Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2003 to 2005.
Francisco later left the Bush administration in 2005 and returned to the private sector, working in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Jones Day where he argued a number of cases in Federal and state courts on a wide array of issues.
After Trump’s election, Francisco was appointed Principal Deputy Solicitor General for the United States on January 23, 2017 while also serving as acting Solicitor General until March 10, 2017.
On March 7, 2017, he was formally nominated to the positon of Solicitor General by the White House and confirmed on September 19, 2017 after a 50-47 vote in the U.S. Senate.
After the resignation of Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand on February 8, 2018, Francisco became the third highest-ranking official currently in the U.S. Department of Justice.
How old is Noel Francisco?
Noel Francisco is 49 years old.
He was born on August 21, 1969.
Who is Noel Francisco’s wife?
Noel Francisco’s wife is Cynthia Francisco.
The couple currently resides in Washington, D.C. with their two daughters Maggie and Caroline.
Role in Mueller probe if Rod Rosenstein is fired or quits
In recent days, much speculation in Washington, D.C. has centered on what impact Francisco will have on the U.S. Department of Justice if Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein resigns or is fired by President Trump.
It was recently revealed that Rosenstein reportedly planned to attempt to oust Trump by secretly recording him to build a case for removing him via the 25th Amendment, which states that the members of the President’s Cabinet have the authority to notify Congress if they believe the President is incapable of performing his or her duties successfully, allowing Congress to vote on whether the Vice President should be made Acting President.
Many have speculated that Rosenstein, above, may be fired by Trump or resign on his own
While many expected Rosenstein to be swiftly terminated following this shocking revelation, Trump declined to do so, even inviting him into a Cabinet meeting to sit in for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was traveling at the time.
Rosenstein will, however, meet with Trump on September 27 in a meeting that could possibly decide his fate in the President’s administration.
Should Rosenstein ultimately be fired or resign from office, the consequences could be enormous. Notably, Francisco would oversee the Russia investigation currently being spearheaded by former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
As the third highest-ranking spot at the U.S. Department of Justice, Associate Attorney General remains officially unfulfilled since Rachel Brand left in February, the task of overseeing the investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election will fall on Francisco, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the probe.
By overseeing the investigation, Francisco would have immense influence on the probe by having the authority to approve indictments and decide if Mueller can take the investigation into new ground. Most important of all, he would also have the authority to terminate Mueller if he wished to do so.
Francisco has reportedly never overseen a criminal investigation before, though his past legal statements and writings have offered a glimpse into his views on Presidential power.
‘The president’s constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute the laws requires adequate authority to remove subordinate officers.
‘The framers understood the close connection between the president’s ability to discharge his responsibilities as head of the executive branch and his control over its personnel…
‘The president’s ability to execute the law is thus inextricably linked to his authority to hold his subordinates accountable for their conduct,’ he argued before the United States Supreme Court in February 2018, indicating a fairly broad view of Presidential power.
According to reports, Francisco also holds a skeptical view of special counsels, meaning that he could possibly not be nearly as open to supporting the Russia investigation as Rosenstein has.
Ultimately, the fate of the Russia probe likely lies in the future of Rosenstein and whether he will retain his position as Deputy Attorney General or leave his post via termination by the President or by stepping down on his own.