Carol Lam

Former U.S. Attorney Carol Lam oversaw the investigation into and prosecution of California House Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham for corruption. In 2007, Lam was one of seven United States Attorneys removed from office by Alberto Gonzales in 2007.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: June 26, 1959
2. Education: Yale University, B.A.; Stanford Law School, J.D.
3. Spouse: Mark Steven Burnett (1986)
4. Occupation: Lawyer, former United States Attorney
5. Reason for ouster given by Administration: Not enough attention to immigration cases
6. Reason for ouster theorized by Senator Dianne Feinstein: Lam's corruption inquiries

Key Dates

• 1981: Graduates from Yale University
• 1985: Graduates from Stanford Law School
• 1986 to 1997: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California
• 1997 to 2000: Chief of Major Frauds section, Southern District of California
• November 12, 2002: Sworn in as a United States Attorney for the Southern District of California
• November 28, 2005: Representative Duke Cunningham resigns from office and pleads guilty after Lam-led probe
• May 10, 2006: Lam's office notifies Justice Department of search warrants in Republican bribery scandal
• May 11, 2006: Kyle Sampson, Alberto Gonzalez's Chief of Staff sends email urging Lam's removal from office as quickly as possible
• February 15, 2007: Resigns from position as U.S. Attorny after pressure from Bush Administration
• February, 2007: Accepts position as vice president and senior counsel at Qualcomm

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