Presidential Lecture Series With Michael Ben'Ary
A timely conversation between Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson and Michael Ben’Ary, Senior Fellow at NYU Law and former career federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
March 19, 2026, 12:30 p.m.
Michelle J. Anderson and Michael Ben’Ary discussed the consequences of political interference in the Justice Department and its implications for the rule of law and democratic institutions.
About Michael Ben’Ary
Michael Ben’Ary, Senior Fellow at NYU Law, is a career federal prosecutor with nearly two decades of service at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked under multiple administrations. He most recently served as Chief of the National Security Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, overseeing terrorism, counterintelligence, and other complex national security matters.
In October 2025, Ben’Ary was dismissed during the Trump administration amid a broader restructuring of senior career leadership within the Justice Department. His departure drew national attention and sparked discussion about the role of career prosecutors, the independence of federal law enforcement, and the importance of safeguarding national security institutions.