Jeffrey Jensen is an American attorney and former FBI agent who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri from 2017 to 2020. He is best known for his role in reviewing the U.S. Department of Justice's prosecution of Michael Flynn.
Early Life and Education
Details about Jensen's early life and specific educational background are not extensively publicized in his public professional profile, though he is a qualified attorney.
Career
Jensen began his career as an FBI agent, serving in the bureau for approximately a decade. During his time with the FBI, he worked on various investigations, including violent crimes, white-collar crimes, and drug trafficking.
After leaving the FBI, Jensen transitioned to a career in law. He became an Assistant U.S. Attorney, gaining experience in federal prosecution. Later, he entered private practice, working at a prominent law firm in St. Louis, Missouri, where he specialized in civil and criminal litigation.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri
In 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Jeffrey Jensen to be the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 14, 2017. As U.S. Attorney, Jensen oversaw all federal prosecutions and litigation in his district, focusing on issues such as violent crime, public corruption, and drug enforcement.
Michael Flynn Review
In February 2020, Attorney General William Barr appointed Jensen to review the Department of Justice's prosecution of Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor. This appointment came amid allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and concerns about the handling of the case.
Jensen's review involved examining the government's entire file related to the Flynn investigation and prosecution. Following his review, in May 2020, the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Flynn, citing that the government no longer believed it could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Flynn had made false statements to the FBI and that the interview itself was not conducted with a legitimate investigative purpose.
Resignation
Jensen resigned from his position as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri in December 2020, shortly before the end of the Trump administration. He subsequently returned to private practice.