David Pressman

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For the American immunologist, see David Pressman (scientist).
David Pressman
United States Ambassador to Hungary
Assumed office
September 14, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byB. Bix Aliu (Chargé d'Affaires)
United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
In office
September 17, 2014 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJeffrey DeLaurentis
Succeeded byRobert A. Wood
Personal details
Born1977 (age 46–47)
Education

David Pressman (born 1977) is an American lawyer who has served as the United States ambassador to Hungary since 2022. He previously worked in the Obama administration and served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs from 2014 to 2016. Pressman represented the United States at the United Nations Security Council and in related negotiations. Ambassador Pressman is described in the media as a "high profile diplomat"[1] and "one of the world's leading human rights advocates".[2]

As an attorney in private practice, he has represented a wide variety of businesses while also representing the interests of human rights advocates, victims of terrorism, dissidents and journalists targeted by authoritarian regimes, and those unjustly convicted.

Biography[edit]

David Pressman was born in 1977 and grew up in California. His parents were both lawyers, one of them a judge. His family is Jewish with roots in Eastern Europe.[3][4] Pressman received his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in 1999.[5]

He worked briefly in communications for the Clinton administration before becoming an aide to United States Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, accompanying her to the United Nations and Camp David and on several international trips.[4][a] Entering law school in the fall of 2001, he got his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 2004, where he graduated magna cum laude and a member of the Order of the Coif.[4]

During the 2004 presidential race, he served on Wesley Clark's National Security Working Group and then worked for the Kerry/Edwards campaign.[4] He then clerked for the Supreme Court of Rwanda, where he evaluated post-genocide transitional justice initiatives. Returning to the US he worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama.[4] He also undertook an assignment[specify] in Sudan for the UN.[3][4]

In early 2006, Pressman accompanied actor George Clooney and his father on a trip to Darfur to make a documentary. He joined Clooney on several missions to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa to lobby for peace in Darfur.[3] Pressman joined Clooney in founding Not On Our Watch Project, an advocacy and grant-making organization focused on raising awareness about mass-atrocities.[3] Working as an attorney in private practice, he represented the Indian activist Leonard Peltier in seeking a pardon and had a conviction overturned in the case of a man who spent 10 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.[3]

Obama administration[edit]

Under President Barack Obama, Pressman served as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and was responsible for policy development on global criminal justice issues there.[6][7][8] He also served as the Director for War Crimes and Atrocities on the National Security Council, where he coordinated the government's efforts to prevent and respond to mass atrocities, genocide, and war crimes.[9][10] He was also a member of the Atrocities Prevention Board.[11][12]

On June 16, 2014, Obama nominated Pressman to be US Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs–a role the New York Times has called both "the alternate"[13] and "the deputy"[14] US ambassador to the UN–and he was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2014.[15] While waiting for Senate confirmation he served as counselor to Ambassador Samantha Power.[16]

In early 2015, he successfully lobbied against a Russia-led attempt to deny benefits to the same-sex partners of U.N. employees.[17][18][b] He participated in negotiations that produced sanctions against North Korea[c] in March 2016 in response to that country's fourth nuclear test and placed the issue of human rights in North Korea on the agenda of the U.N. Security Council.[20] As a spokesperson for the US, he praised the lifting of sanctions against Liberia as evidence of their success[21] and denounced the failure of Sudanese authorities to take advantage of the support provided by the international community.[22]

The day after a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida in June 2016, Pressman told the UN General Assembly that denouncing terrorism was an insufficient response: "If we are united in our outrage by the killing of so many — and we are — let us be equally united around the basic premise of upholding the universal dignity of all persons regardless of who they love, not just around condemning the terrorists who kill them." He was influential in winning UN Security Council approval of a resolution that condemned "targeting persons as a result of their sexual orientation". It was the first time that body addressed sexual orientation and required what diplomats called "intense consultations" to overcome the reservations of countries that provide no civil protections for sexual orientation or criminalize homosexuality.[13][20][23][d]

In private practice[edit]

Pressman left government service in November 2016. He became the first executive director of George and Amal Clooney's family foundation, the Clooney Foundation for Justice,[20][e] and he joined the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner as a partner in their New York City office.[25] Managing partner Jonathan D. Schiller described his role as a "statesman-litigator": "He advises clients on navigating political and legal issues in cross-border deals, disputes with foreign governments, national security-related issues and public law disputes."[26] His clients at Boies included Epic Games Inc., the New York Yankees Partnership, and Centene Corp.[27] In June 2020 he moved to Jenner & Block, again as a partner based in New York City,[28][29] where his clients included Princeton University, First Republic Bank, and the Oshkosh Corp.

Pressman was on Jenner's team of attorneys suing Russian banks in U.S. federal court in case over Russia's downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight in 2014.[27][30] He worked on behalf of Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman in seeking corrections from Fox News[31] and sued Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on behalf of Saad Aljabri, a former Saudi intelligence official.[32] In 2021, he negotiated for the release of two Americans held for three years by China on charges they claimed were designed to pressure their father to return to China to face trial for financial crimes.[33]

In October 2018, Pressman protested the U.S. State Department's new policy that denied visas to the same-sex partners of foreign employees of international institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank unless they were married. The State Department said the policy change was designed "to help ensure and promote equal treatment" between straight and gay couples". Pressman called it "creative and cynical way to use the expansion of equality at home to vindictively target same-sex couples abroad", given that many of them were denied the right to marry in their home countries.[17]

Appointment as ambassador to Hungary[edit]

On May 13, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Pressman to be United States ambassador to Hungary.[34] On May 17, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[35] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 23, 2022, and the committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on July 19, 2022.[36] During Pressman's confirmation hearing, a rubber boat was seen in the Danube River near the embassy in Budapest carrying a sign written in English and Hungarian, "Mr. Pressman, don't colonize Hungary with your cult of death". A photo of the protest is now displayed behind his embassy desk.[37] On July 28, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by a 61–30 vote.[38] He was sworn in on August 8, 2022,[39] and presented his credentials to President Katalin Novák on September 14, 2022.[40][41] He is the first US ambassador to Hungary in years who was not appointed for being a political donor.[19]

Pressman has been attacked in the government-controlled media. In April 2023, amid "anti-American rhetoric from senior Hungarian officials", parliamentary speaker László Kövér said: "Mr Pressman is one of the least classy ambassadors ever to set foot on Hungarian soil representing his own country.... He talks nonsense, and he does it aggressively."[42] Speaker László Kövér has a long history of anti-American, homophobic, and anti-Semitic rhetoric.[43][44]

Personal life[edit]

Pressman, who is gay, is married and has twin sons.[37][19]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Destinations included Brunei, Belfast, Bangkok, Colombia, and Croatia.[4]
  2. ^ "A UN general assembly budget committee voted 80-43 against the proposal. There were 37 abstentions, and 33 countries did not vote."[18]
  3. ^ Samantha Power later said Pressman "is a person that I entrusted in the day-to-day to work with the Chinese ambassador to extract as robust a set of sanctions [against North Korea] as possible."[19]
  4. ^ In 2006, according to the New York Times, "In at least 74 countries, being gay is a crime. In at least 10 countries, gay sex is a crime punishable by death."[14]
  5. ^ He continued as executive director of the foundation until at least July 2019.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bayer, Lili (2024-01-26). "US 'disappointed' Hungary taking so long to approve Sweden joining Nato". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. ^ "Ep. 557 — Amb. David Pressman". The Axe Files. November 16, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via CNN.
  3. ^ a b c d e Daunt, Tina (May 2, 2008). "George Clooney depends on 'Cuz'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Alumnus/Alumna of the Month: David Pressman". New York University Law School. November 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Theatre Department presents "Quills"". Brown University News Bureau. January 28, 1999. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "USAID Tech Challenge". Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  7. ^ "DHS Leadership". September 7, 2006.
  8. ^ "State Department Remarks at Global Counterterrorism Forum". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  9. ^ McElwaine, Sandra (April 13, 2010). "Obama Hires a Clooney Confidant". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Williamson, Richard (August 11, 2011). "Obama Takes Steps to Stop Atrocity Crimes". Brookings. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "USAID Bio". Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  12. ^ "David Pressman on the challenges of making "never again" a reality". Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. March 17, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2023. recently appointed by Obama to serve as the first-ever Director for War Crimes and Atrocities on the National Security Council at the White House
  13. ^ a b Sengupta, Somini (June 14, 2016). "After Orlando, Gay Rights Moves off Diplomatic Back Burner". New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "The Orlando Attack and Its Global Echoes". New York Times. June 15, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "PN1772 - Nomination of David Pressman for Department of State, 113th Congress (2013-2014)". www.congress.gov. September 17, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  16. ^ "Amb. David Pressman". Concordia. September 5, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Fitzsimons, Tim (October 1, 2018). "U.S. to partners of U.N. LGBTQ staff: Get married, or get out". NBC News. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Russia fails in bid to halt UN staff benefits for same-sex couples". The Guardian. Reuters at the United Nations. March 24, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Bayer, Lili (November 15, 2022). "Orbán's new public enemy: A Twitter-savvy US ambassador calling out conspiracies". Politico. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c Nichols, Michelle (November 3, 2016). "U.S. deputy U.N. envoy to head Clooney Foundation for Justice". Reuters. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Sengupta, Somini (May 25, 2016). "Last Liberia Sanctions, Vestige of Civil War, Are Lifted". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  22. ^ Sengupta, Somini; Gladstone, Rick (November 4, 2016). "U.S. Diplomat Who Helped South Sudan Says He's Appalled by Strife There". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  23. ^ Nichols, Michelle (June 13, 2016). "U.N. Security Council condemns Orlando gay nightclub massacre". Reuters. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  24. ^ "CFJ Executive Director Ambassador David Pressman Statement on the Trial of Cansu Pişkin in Turkey" (PDF). July 17, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "US Ambassador David Pressman to Join Boies, Schiller" (Press release). Law Dragon. November 7, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Smith, Patrick (May 28, 2019). "Old School: David Pressman Brings Diplomacy to Boies Schiller Flexner". American Lawyer. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Law.com International.
  27. ^ a b Scarcella, Mike (May 23, 2022). "Jenner's David Pressman, picked for ambassador to Hungary". Reuters. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "International Crisis Litigator And Former US Ambassador David Pressman Joins Jenner & Block" (Press release). PR Newswire. June 1, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  29. ^ Pressman, David. "David Pressman". Jenner & Block LLP. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  30. ^ Frankel, Alison (October 4, 2021). "Malaysia Air victims can move forward with terror lawsuit against Russian banks". Reuters. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  31. ^ Hakim, Danny (November 20, 2019). "Vindman's Lawyer Asks Fox News to Retract Espionage Allegation". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  32. ^ Quan, Douglas (August 6, 2020). "Saudi hit squad was sent to Toronto to try to kill former intel official, lawsuit alleges". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  33. ^ Hansler, Jennifer; Duster, Chandelis (September 28, 2021). "Two American siblings allowed to return from China after three years following lifting of exit ban". CNN. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  34. ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees" (Press release). The White House. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  35. ^ "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate". The White House. May 17, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  36. ^ "PN2133 — David Pressman — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  37. ^ a b Higgins, Andrew (February 2, 2023). "A US ambassador finds himself on hostile ground in Hungary". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  38. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: David Pressman, of New York, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to Hungary )". United States Senate. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  39. ^ "Ambassador David Pressman". United States Department of State. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  40. ^ Pressman, David [@USAmbHungary] (September 14, 2022). "It was an honor to present my credentials to President @KatalinNovakMP as Ambassador of the United States of America to Hungary" (Tweet). Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Óry, Mariann (September 15, 2022). "Foreign Minister Meets New US Ambassador". Hungary Today. Retrieved February 7, 2023. David Pressman presented his credentials to Hungarian President Katalin Novák on Wednesday.
  42. ^ Garamvolgyi, Flora (13 April 2023). "Viktor Orbán's political allies in Hungary in sights of US sanctions". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  43. ^ "US Embassy in Berlin chides László Kövér, Hungary's homophobe Parliament Speaker". Hungarian Free Press. 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  44. ^ "Knesset Speaker uninvites Hungarian counterpart over attendance at memorial for Nazi collaborator". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
2014–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Hungary
2022–present 		Incumbent
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