Harry P. Litman (born c. 1958)[1] is an American lawyer, law professor and political commentator. He is a former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General.[2][3] He has provided commentary in print and broadcast news and produces the Talking Feds podcast. He has taught in multiple law schools and schools of public policy.
Following his clerkships, Litman became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. While an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was detailed to the Department of Justice's main office in Washington, D.C., to work on several national cases, including the federal re-prosecution of the Los Angeles police officers in the Rodney King case.[12]
From 1993 to 1998 he was a Deputy Assistant Attorney General[13] under Janet Reno[4] in the Department of Justice, coordinating the department's work on a number of issues and advising the Attorney General and other officials on questions of constitutional law and prosecutorial policy. Simultaneously, he was a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In that capacity, he was co-counsel for Operation Underhand, prosecuting a narcotics ring that smuggled drugs into prison under the guise of providing religious counseling.[4]
Litman developed a nationally recognized gun-violence reduction initiative known as Operation Target,[18] and personally litigated cases in the district court and the court of appeals.[19][20]
A Democrat, Litman served as Pennsylvania state counsel to the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and post-election counsel for Western Pennsylvania to the Obama-Biden presidential campaign in 2008.
After leaving government, Litman was appointed a Distinguished Visitor and Fellow to the Program in Law and Public Policy at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.[21]
As of 2020 Litman was associated with the law firm Constantine Cannon in San Francisco, where he focuses on False Claims Act cases.[22]
Litman is the host and executive producer of the Talking Feds podcast. The podcast is known for its roundtable discussions featuring prominent guests across government, law, and journalism and for its sidebars in which prominent figures in other fields explain legal or federal topics in the news.[23]
In March 2024, he launched "Talking San Diego," a series of conversations with some of the nation’s most interesting and prominent figures. The inaugural conversation, with Congressman Jamie Raskin, took place March 18, 2024.[24][25]
Litman was lead counsel for the relator in Washington v. EDMC,[35] a False Claims Act case against a for-profit education chain. The case resulted in the largest settlement ever in an FCA case involving the U.S. Department of Education.[9]
He was counsel for Richard Cordray, then director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in contemplated litigation against President Trump to prevent Cordray's termination.[36]
Litman represented Pittsburgh Mayor Thomas J. Murphy Jr. in a successful effort to prevent indictment on federal charges.[10] He also served as co-counsel by appointment of the Department of Justice in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.[37]
In March 2019, Litman launched the podcastTalking Feds, a round-table of former federal officials discussing the legal issues of the day. Litman serves as host and executive producer. In March 2020 Marie Claire named it the second-best political podcast in the US to prepare listeners for the upcoming presidential election.[40]
Litman is married to Julie Roskies Litman, a mathematician,[41] three time jiu jitsu world champion,[42] and former professional bass player. Roskies Litman graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a double major in philosophy and mathematics. They have 3 school age children; David, Lila, and Toby.[43] Litman's parents, Roslyn Litman[44] and David Litman, represented future NBA star Connie Hawkins in his successful suit to be admitted into the league. Litman's sister, Jessica Litman, is a lawyer and copyright scholar at the University of Michigan. His mother was attorney Roslyn Litman.[45] He is a member of the Democratic Party.[46]