Editorials

Ihlenfeld Strong Pick To Return as U.S. Attorney

It's not often that a U.S. attorney gets a second chance to hold the office under a new president. But we believe the decision from President Joe Biden to nominate Wheeling resident and former U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld is the right one, as Ihlenfeld served the office well during his prior six-year tenure.

First nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August 2010, Ihlenfeld marked his time at the federal building in Wheeling primarily by focusing on drug crimes. He and his assistant prosecutors worked with local law enforcement officials across the Northern District to disrupt drug trafficking networks from outside the state, prosecuting dealers and going after doctors and pharmacists involved in the improper prescribing of painkillers. He also went after white collar crimes and conducted several civil rights investigations.

Among Ihlenfeld's most notable cases was one against HSBC -- one of the world's largest banks -- "for its failure to identify money laundering transactions related to Mexican drug trafficking as well as its hiding of transfers made for clients in foreign countries subject to U.S. sanctions."

HSBC paid $1.9 billion in fines and penalties to the federal government following a lengthy investigation.

Once Ihlenfeld's nomination is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, his return to the federal prosecutor's office will create a vacancy in the West Virginia Senate, where Ihlenfeld has served as a Democratic state senator from the First Senatorial District since 2018.

It will be up to local and state Democratic Party leaders to offer three names to Gov. Jim Justice to serve out Ihlenfeld's term.

Ihlenfeld served the U.S. Attorney's office well during his first appointment there, and we're certain that will be the case with a second stint. His professionalism and passion for the job are clear, and we're certain he will step forward and do the job well. We would urge our U.S. senators -- Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito -- to join us in supporting Ihlenfeld's nomination.