Ken Cuccinelli

(Redirected from Cuccinelli)

Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II (/ˌkɪˈnɛli/ KOO-chin-EL-ee; born July 30, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the senior official performing the duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as the Principal Deputy and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and was Attorney General of Virginia from 2010 to 2014.

Ken Cuccinelli
Official portrait, 2019
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security[1]
De facto, unlawful
In office
November 13, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDavid Pekoske
Succeeded byDavid Pekoske (acting)
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services[1]
De facto, unlawful
In office
June 10, 2019 – January 20, 2021[2][3]
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byL. Francis Cissna
Succeeded byTracy Renaud (acting)
Principal Deputy Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
In office
June 10, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
46th Attorney General of Virginia
In office
January 16, 2010 – January 11, 2014
GovernorBob McDonnell
Preceded byBill Mims
Succeeded byMark Herring
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 37th district
In office
August 19, 2002 – January 12, 2010
Preceded byWarren E. Barry
Succeeded byDavid W. Marsden
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II

(1968-07-30) July 30, 1968 (age 56)
Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Alice Monteiro Davis
(m. 1991)
Children7
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BS)
George Mason University (MA, JD)
Signature

He previously served in the Virginia Senate, representing the 37th district in Fairfax County from 2002 until 2010, and as the 46th attorney general of Virginia from 2010 until 2014. Cuccinelli was the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia in the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial election, losing to the Democratic nominee, Terry McAuliffe.

A self-described opponent of homosexuality, Cuccinelli in his position as Virginia Attorney General defended anti-sodomy laws and prohibitions on same-sex marriage. Cuccinelli rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, and in his position as Attorney General investigated climate scientists whom he accused of fraud. Characterized as an immigration hard-liner, Cuccinelli sought to prohibit undocumented immigrants from attending universities, repeal birthright citizenship, and force employees to speak English in the workplace.

His appointment as Acting USCIS Director by the Donald Trump administration was ruled unlawful by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in March 2020, who found it to be in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. Later that year, the Government Accountability Office ruled his appointment as the acting Deputy Secretary illegal, as well.

Early life and education

edit

Cuccinelli was born in Edison, New Jersey, the son of Maribeth (née Reilly) and Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli.[4] His father is of Italian descent and his mother is of Irish ancestry.[5] He attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., where he graduated in 1986,[6] and received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, and an M.A. in international commerce and policy from George Mason University.[7]

Career

edit

Cuccinelli co-founded a general practice law firm in Fairfax, Virginia.[8]

Virginia State Senate (2002–2010)

edit

Cuccinelli ran for the state Senate in the 37th District in an August 2002 special election. He defeated Democrat Catherine Belter 55%–45%.[9][10] In 2003, he was re-elected to his first full term, defeating Democrat Jim E. Mitchell III 53% to 47%.[11] In 2007, he barely won re-election to his second full term, narrowly defeating Democrat Janet Oleszek by a 0.3-point margin, a difference of just 92 votes out of about 37,000 votes cast.[12][13]

Attorney General of Virginia (2010–2014)

edit
 
Cuccinelli (right), as Virginia Attorney General, at a U.S. Department of Justice press conference announcing a resolution of Abbott Laboratories' off-label promotion of its drug Depakote in May 2012

In 2009, Cuccinelli was selected as the Republican nominee for attorney general,[14] going on to win 58% of the vote (1,123,816 votes). Republican Bob McDonnell became governor,[15] and Bill Bolling was re-elected as lieutenant governor. Cuccinelli was inaugurated on January 16, 2010.[16]

In 2010, Cuccinelli was the first attorney general to file a federal lawsuit (Virginia v. Sebelius) challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[17][18] During his 2013 run for governor, Cuccinelli opposed the ACA's Medicaid expansion.[18]

In July 2010, Cuccinelli joined eight other states in filing an amicus brief opposing the federal government's lawsuit challenging an Arizona immigration enforcement statute.[19] In August 2010, Cuccinelli authorized law enforcement officials to investigate the immigration status of anyone that they have stopped.[20]

Cuccinelli rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.[21] In 2010, Cuccinelli sought judicial review of the Environmental Protection Agency's finding that greenhouse gasses endanger public health.[22] In 2012, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected Cuccinelli's arguments.[23] In 2010, Cuccinelli announced he would challenge the March 2010 standards for motor vehicle fuel efficiency specified in the Clean Air Act.[24][25][26] In April 2010, as part of the Attorney General of Virginia's climate science investigation, Cuccinelli served a civil investigative demand on the University of Virginia seeking a broad range of documents related to climate researcher Michael E. Mann.[27][28] On August 30, 2010, Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. ruled that "the nature of the conduct is not stated so that any reasonable person could glean what Dr. Mann did to violate the statute."[29][30][31] Cuccinelli appealed the case to the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled that Cuccinelli did not have the authority to make these demands. The outcome was hailed as a victory for academic freedom.[32][33]

Cuccinelli opposes homosexuality, describing homosexual acts as "against nature" and "harmful to society".[34][35][36] Cuccinelli opposes same-sex marriage.[37] He has argued against the constitutionality of same-sex marriages.[37] In 2010, Cuccinelli called on Virginia universities to remove "'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification, as a protected class within its nondiscrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly".[38][34]

He defended the constitutionality of Virginia laws prohibiting sodomy.[39] In March 2013, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals struck down Virginia's anti-sodomy law, finding it unconstitutional based on the Supreme Court's 2003 ruling in Lawrence v. Texas.[40] On June 25, 2013, Cuccinelli filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court,[41][42] but in October 2013 the Supreme Court denied Cuccinelli's appeal.[43] On November 24, 2010, Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion that police, school administrators, and teachers could search students' cell phones on the basis of reasonable suspicions in order to deter cyberbullying and "sexting". The ACLU and the Rutherford Institute said that Cuccinelli's opinion was in error, lacking a legal foundation.[44][45]

Since 2007, his office negotiated settlements of almost $8 million representing refunds from eight auto-title lenders,[46][47] filed a lawsuit against CNC Financial Services, Inc. for charging interest rates of 300 percent or more,[46][47][48] and filed two separate against two Virginia Beach-based mortgage modification companies for charging customers up to $1,200 in illegal advance fees.[49] He was involved in passing legislation targeting human trafficking.[50]

2013 Virginia gubernatorial candidacy

edit

After his election as attorney general, it was speculated that Cuccinelli was a potential candidate for governor in the 2013 election[51] or for the United States Senate in 2014. Cuccinelli himself stated that he was considering running for the Senate.[52] Two days later, one of his aides said, "We haven't ruled out anything. He's not actively considering a run for any particular office at the moment. Ken is operating under the assumption that he will run for reelection [in 2013]. He hasn't ruled out any option besides running for president, which he has no desire to do."[53]

On November 30, 2011, The Washington Post reported that Cuccinelli would announce within days that he was running for governor in 2013; the next day, Cuccinelli confirmed that he would run.[54] Cuccinelli said he would continue serving as attorney general during his run. He is the first attorney general since 1985 to remain in office while seeking the governorship rather than resign the position while seeking the office, a precedent that the last six attorneys general to run for governor have adhered to.[55]

Cuccinelli lost to Terry McAuliffe on November 5, 2013, by 56,435 votes, or 2.5% of total ballots cast.[56] The Libertarian Party candidate, Robert Sarvis, received 146,084 votes, or 6.5% of the vote total.[56]

Business and politics (2014–2017)

edit

In 2014, Cuccinelli was involved with the co-founding of an oyster farming company in Tangier, Virginia.[57]

In the 2016 presidential election, Cuccinelli served as an advisor to Ted Cruz's campaign, leading the campaign's effort to win delegates for Cruz at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[58]

In early polls on the 2017 gubernatorial race, Cuccinelli was a frontrunner for the Republican nomination.[59] However, in April 2016, Cuccinelli announced that he would not run for governor in 2017.[60]

In May 2016, Cuccinelli was named general counsel of the FreedomWorks Foundation, where he helps state attorneys general who want to oppose a federal regulation.[61]

In January 2017, Cuccinelli filed a legal brief on behalf of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, challenging a 2015 law which freezes base electricity rates charged by Dominion Power, one of the state's most powerful corporations, and Appalachian Power Company. The basis of the brief is that the law allows these semi-public electric utility companies to charge excess rates. Cuccinelli said "This is a legalized transfer [of money] from poorer Virginians to two utility companies. It is unfair and unjust and unconstitutional, and it's bad policy."[62]

De facto Acting USCIS Director (2019–2021)

edit
"Press Briefing with Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli," video from the White House

Cuccinelli was appointed to serve as the Principal Deputy Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in June 2019, allowing him to become the Acting Director.[63]

As the administrator of USCIS, Cuccinelli was in charge of the systems for legal immigration and naturalization. He said that he regarded access to immigration as a privilege, not a right, and that "We are not a benefit agency, we are a vetting agency."[64]

Appointment controversy

edit

Cuccinelli was appointed Acting Director when leading Senators indicated he had little chance of Senate confirmation as permanent director.[65][66] He was first appointed to a newly created position of "Principal Deputy Director", which according to Department of Homeland Security officials allowed him to then be appointed as Acting Director under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA).[67]

The appointment as Acting Director of USCIS may have circumvented the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, according to the Chairs of the House committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Government Oversight.[68] FVRA stipulates eligibility criteria for temporarily filling positions that require Senate confirmation. Before being considered for the position, Cuccinelli had met none of the eligibility criteria. In a letter to the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, the House committee chairs allege that the brief appointment to "Principal Deputy Director" had been retroactively applied, possibly in violation of the law.[68] The USCIS employees union also challenged the legality of Cuccinelli's appointment.[66]

In September 2019, a lawsuit was filed challenging his asylum directives, partially on the basis that his appointment was invalid.[69] On March 1, 2020, US District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ruled that Cuccinelli was not lawfully appointed to serve as acting director and therefore lacked authority to issue two of the directives challenged in the lawsuit. Because the case was not filed as a class action, Moss was "unconvinced" that his relief should be extended to other asylum seekers not part of the original suit.[70][71] On August 12, 2020, the government dropped its appeal in the case.[72]

Tenure in office

edit

In July 2019, Cuccinelli blamed an asylum seeker for the asylum seeker's own death and that of his daughter who were found dead on the banks of the Rio Grande River.[73] He said, "The reason we have tragedies like that on the border is because those folks, that father didn't want to wait to go through the asylum process in the legal fashion, so decided to cross the river".[73] He said in an interview that the administration is prepared to deport approximately 1 million undocumented immigrants who have final removal orders already in place.[74]

On August 12, 2019, Cuccinelli announced a revised regulation, to go into effect October 15, 2019, expanding the public charge requirements for legal immigration. Green cards and visas can be denied if people are likely to need federal, state and local government benefits including food stamps, housing vouchers and Medicaid. When asked whether this change contradicted the poem welcoming the impoverished and persecuted engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty, Cuccinelli offered a revision, "Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge." The original poem, Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus", states "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." Cuccinelli asserted the new requirements were consistent with the public charge laws, which first passed in 1882: the same era as the poem. He further asserted that the poem referred to European immigrants, though these assertions were disputed by Lazarus's biographer.[75][76][77][78]

In October 2019, Ken Cuccinelli testified to a Congressional investigation that he alone had made the decision to end the medical deferred action program, a decision which he reversed after public outcry, and complaints from some patients in the U.S. for medical care that they would die if deported to their home countries.[79]

On March 1, 2020, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Cuccinelli's appointment as USCIS director was illegal because the newly created principal deputy director role did not count as a "first assistant" under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 because he had never served in a subordinate role to any other USCIS official. This decision caused the suspension of all directives issued by him.[80]

De facto Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

edit

Appointment controversy

edit

On November 13, 2019, newly sworn-in Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf named Cuccinelli to be the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.[81][82][83] Cuccinelli continued to serve concurrently in the acting USCIS director role.[80]

The legality of this appointment was unclear; House Committee on Homeland Security Chair Bennie Thompson called the appointment "legally questionable", while University of Texas School of Law Professor Stephen Vladeck said that "because Congress has not, by law, specified which position is 'first assistant' to the Deputy Secretary, this move is technically legal," despite "messing up the entire DHS line of succession in order to pull this off."[84]

On November 15, House Democrats requested that the Comptroller General of the United States review the legality of this appointment and Chad Wolf's as Acting Secretary on the basis that former Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan did not have authority to change the department's line of succession.[85] On August 14, 2020, the Government Accountability Office issued a decision confirming that his appointment as Acting Deputy Secretary illegal on this basis.[86][87]

Tenure

edit

Cuccinelli was appointed as a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on January 29, 2020.

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris questions Cuccinelli during his testimony about the federal response to COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020
 
Cuccinelli tours the U.S. Capitol following the January 6, 2021, storming in his capacity as acting Deputy Secretary

In July 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security announced that international students in the United States would be deported unless they took in-person classes at universities in the United States. At the time, many universities were considering online-only models or hybrid in-person/online classes in order to safeguard the health of students and staff, as well as to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Cuccinelli defended the policy, saying "there isn't a reason" for international students to remain in the United States unless classes are in-person. He also said that the intent behind the announcement was to encourage universities to have in-person classes during the pandemic.[88] The United States issued nearly 400,000 F1- and M-visas (student visas) in 2019.[89] On July 8, 2020, Harvard filed pleadings together with MIT in the US District Court in Boston seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of the order.[90]

That same month, Cuccinelli defended the deployment of federal agents dressed in camouflage and tactical gear to Portland, Oregon, where they picked up protestors and took them into unmarked vehicles.[91][92]

Under his tenure, Cuccinelli reduced oversight of the DHS's intelligence arm, making it unnecessary for it to get approval from the DHS's civil liberties office in producing intelligence products. Since the change, the DHS's intelligence arm began compiling intelligence reports on journalists who covered the deployment of DHS agents to Portland, Oregon.[93] The intelligence arm also documented communications between protestors on the app Telegram.[93]

According to a whistleblower complaint released in September 2020, Cuccinelli ordered the intelligence branch at DHS to modify its intelligence assessments to downplay the threat posed by white supremacy groups and to instead focus on "left-wing" groups, such as the antifa movement.[94]

Another whistleblower complaint, filed February 1, 2021, asserted that on January 19, 2021, the day before Biden's inauguration, Cuccinelli signed an agreement with the union representing ICE agents which essentially gives the agents the power to determine policy, by requiring prior written consent from the union before any change to policies and functions that affect them can take effect. The complaint said that Cuccinelli's action was an abuse of power intended to "tie Biden's hands" with regard to immigration policy.[95]

The Heritage Foundation

edit

In February 2021, Cuccinelli was named a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, where he authored five commentary essays for the foundation in 2021 before leaving the foundation at some unannounced date.[96]

In 2023, Cuccinelli authored the chapter on the Department of Homeland Security in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 book, Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.[97]

Political positions

edit
 
Cuccinelli receiving the "Defender of the Constitution" award from the Conservative Political Action Conference for his work as Virginia Attorney General in February 2012

Abortion

edit

Cuccinelli opposes a right to terminate a pregnancy.[98][99] In November 2008 he was named the Family Foundation of Virginia "Legislator of the Year".[100] Cuccinelli sponsored a number of bills to discourage abortions, including requiring doctors to anesthetize fetuses undergoing late term abortions,[101] altering the licensing and regulation of abortion clinics,[102] and requiring that a doctor save the fetal tissue when performing an abortion on a woman under age 15, for forensic use.[103] As a state senator, he advanced legislation to make abortion clinics subject to the same health and safety standards as outpatient surgical hospitals.[98] He supported two "personhood" bills that sought to provide human embryos with legal rights.[99]

Birtherism

edit

In 2010, Cuccinelli made statements that appeared to question whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States. He later backed away from the statements.[104][105]

Guns

edit

Cuccinelli is a longtime advocate for gun rights.[106] sponsored legislation to repeal the prohibition on carrying a concealed handgun in a restaurant or club,[107] for Virginia to recognize concealed handgun permits from other states,[108] and to shield concealed handgun permit application data from Freedom of Information Act requests.[109] Under Cuccinelli's proposal a person could only be disqualified for such a permit by a court ruling based on the applicant's past actions.[110] In the 2009 legislative session, a bill Cuccinelli introduced was passed that, for the purposes of granting a Virginia concealed handgun permit, required the state to accept as proof of "handgun competence" any certificate from an online handgun safety course featuring an NRA Certified instructor.[111]

Cuccinelli believes that mental illness is the root cause of mass shootings, and that they can be better prevented with more access to mental health care.[106] He has pushed for restricting mentally ill persons from obtaining guns.[112]

Immigration

edit

Cuccinelli has been described as an immigration hard-liner.[104] He has supported President Trump's anti-immigration policies.[113][104] While in Virginia politics, Cuccinelli pushed legislation to force employees to speak English in the workplace.[104] He has sought to repeal birthright citizenship.[104] He sought to ban undocumented immigrants from attending Virginia colleges.[114]

Donald Trump

edit

During the 2016 Republican National Convention, Cuccinelli led an effort to prevent Donald Trump from receiving the Republican presidential nomination.[104] He was a staunch Ted Cruz supporter during the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries.[114]

After the 2020 presidential election, according to emails obtained by American Oversight through a FOIA request, Cuccinelli exchanged emails with Ginni Thomas regarding election fraud conspiracies.[115]

Ron DeSantis

edit

In March 2023, Cuccinelli launched Never Back Down, a super PAC encouraging Ron DeSantis to enter the 2024 Republican primary.[116]

Taxes

edit

In 2006, Cuccinelli sent out a fundraising letter that criticized the Virginia Senate's Republican majority for passing a gasoline tax increase. The letter elicited rebuke from fellow Republican Tommy Norment.[117] In his 2013 campaign, Cuccinelli proposed cutting the top individual income rate from 5.75 percent to 5 percent and the corporate income tax rate from 6 percent to 4 percent for a total reduction in tax revenue of about $1.4 billion a year. He has stated that he would offset that lost revenue by slowing the growth of the state's general fund spending and by eliminating unspecified tax exemptions and loopholes.[118][119]

Eminent domain

edit

In the 2005, 2006 and 2007 legislative sessions, Cuccinelli worked to pass eminent domain (compulsory purchase) laws that prevented local and state governments from taking private homes and businesses for developers' projects.[120] In April 2010, Cuccinelli told the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce that he wanted to improve the protection of property rights in Virginia's Constitution. "There is no consistency on the application of eminent domain throughout Virginia," he said.[121] In 2012, Cuccinelli championed a constitutional amendment to prohibit eminent domain from being used to take private land for private gain, thus restricting it to being used only for public gain. The amendment was placed on the ballot for a voter referendum in the 2012 general election, and was passed 74%–26%.[122]

Law enforcement

edit

In 2005, Cuccinelli was the chief patron of SB873,[123] legislation that entitled law enforcement officers to overtime pay from local governments for hours worked while on vacation or other leave.[124]

Abstinence-only sex education

edit

Cuccinelli has been a strong advocate of the abstinence-only sex education programs with state funding. In November 2007, he said, "The longer you delay the commencement of sexual activity, you have healthier and happier kids and more successful kids."[125]

Electoral history

edit
Virginia Senate Special Election, August 6, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 10,041 55.01
Democratic Cathy Belter 8,193 44.89
Independent Write-in candidates 18 0.10
Total votes 18,252 100
Virginia Senate General Election, November 4, 2003
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 16,762 53.31
Democratic Jim Mitchell 14,658 46.62
Independent Write-in candidates 23 0.07
Total votes 31,443 100
Virginia Senate General Election, November 6, 2007
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 18,602 50.02
Democratic Janet Oleszek 18,510 49.77
Independent Write-in candidates 73 0.19
Total votes 37,185 100
Virginia Attorney General Election, November 3, 2009
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 1,124,137 57.51
Democratic Steve Shannon 828,687 42.39
Independent Write-in candidates 1,772 0.09
Total votes 1,954,596 100
Virginia gubernatorial election, 2013[126]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Terry McAuliffe 1,069,859 47.75%
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 1,013,355 45.23%
Libertarian Robert Sarvis 146,084 6.52%
Write-ins 11,091 0.50%
Plurality 56,504 2.52%

Personal life

edit

Cuccinelli, a Catholic,[127] is married to Alice Monteiro Davis. They met at Gonzaga College High School and were each other's prom dates. They lost touch when Cuccinelli was attending the University of Virginia and Davis was attending James Madison University. Cuccinelli phoned her during their senior year in college, they reconnected, and married in October 1991. They have seven children.

They live in Nokesville in Prince William County, Virginia.[128][129]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Leadership". Department of Homeland Security. September 7, 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Performing Duties: December 31, 2019 - January 20, 2021
    Acting: June 10, 2019 – December 31, 2019
  3. ^ "Leadership". Department of Homeland Security. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Macon Telegraph: Search Results". June 3, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  5. ^ "Ken Cuccinelli – roots and wings". Mommy Life. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Attorney General Cuccinelli". Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  7. ^ "Virginia Attorney General Biography". Archived from the original on January 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "Cuccinelli & Day, PLC – Attorney Profiles". Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "VA State Senate 37 – Special Race – Aug 06, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  10. ^ "Barry quits Senate for Liquor Board post; Va. Legislator Cites Financial, Health-Care Needs". The Washington Post. June 5, 2002. p. B1. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  11. ^ "VA State Senate 37 Race – Nov 04, 2003". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  12. ^ "November 6, 2007 General Election results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  13. ^ "VA State Senate 37 Race – Nov 06, 2007". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  14. ^ Abruzzese, Sarah (May 20, 2006). "Cuccinelli nominated by Virginia GOP for Attorney General". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  15. ^ "Virginia Governor McDonnell Inauguration, Jan 16 2010". C-SPAN. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "NBC12′s Complete Coverage of the 2010 Inauguration". Decision Virginia blog. January 16, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  17. ^ "Virginia Attorney General to file suit against Federal Government over passage of Health Care bill". Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Cuccinelli highlights Obamacare fight". The Washington Post. September 28, 2013.
  19. ^ "Cuccinelli joins group backing Arizona immigration law". Augusta Free Press. July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  20. ^ Kumar, Anita; Helderman, Rosalind (August 3, 2010). "VA. permits wider police immigration status check". The Washington Post. p. A1. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  21. ^ "Climate scientist calls Va. attorney general's fraud probe 'harassment'". WNET. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  22. ^ "Cuccinelli Petitions EPA and Files for Judicial Review" (Press release). February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  23. ^ Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, June 26, 2012
  24. ^ "Cuccinelli challenges fuel standards". The Washington Post. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  25. ^ "Cuccinelli challenges fuel standards". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  26. ^ Broder, John M. (December 19, 2007). "Bush signs Broad Energy bill". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  27. ^ Retrieved 2010-05-04. Archived June 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Helderman, Rosalind (May 9, 2010). "U-Va. urged to fight Cuccinelli subpoena in probe of scientist". The Washington Post. p. C5. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  29. ^ Ruling. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  30. ^ Helderman, Rosalind (August 31, 2010). "Judge rejects Cuccinelli's probe of U-Va". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  31. ^ Sluss, Michael (August 30, 2010). "Judge denies Cuccinelli's demand for climate scientist's records; AG not backing down". Roanoke Times. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  32. ^ Kumar, Anita (March 2, 2012). "Va. Supreme Court tosses Cuccinelli's case against former U-Va. climate change researcher – Virginia Politics". Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  33. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (March 2, 2012). "Virginia court rejects sceptic's bid for climate science emails : Environment". The Guardian. London. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  34. ^ a b "Ken Cuccinelli reaffirms opposition to homosexuality". Washington Blade. July 20, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  35. ^ Ginsberg, Steven; Witte, Griff (June 29, 2003). "In Wake of Sodomy Ruling, Va. Lawmakers Predict Bills on Both Sides". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  36. ^ "Steve Shannon for attorney general". The Virginian-Pilot. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  37. ^ a b Falcone, Michael (June 25, 2013). "In Supreme Court Brief, Ken Cuccinelli Warned Of A Slippery Slope From Gay Marriage To Polygamy". ABC News. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  38. ^ "Letter from Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, Attorney General to Presidents, Rectors, and Visitors of Virginia's Public Colleges and Universities" (PDF). Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Attorney General. March 4, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  39. ^ "Cuccinelli challenges Virginia gay sex law ruling | LGBT News". Washington Blade. April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  40. ^ Lithwick, Dahlia (August 7, 2013). "Ken Cuccinelli's Sodomy Obsession". Slate.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  41. ^ Kenneth T. Cuccinell, II (June 25, 2013). "Attorney General Cuccinelli appeals to U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Virginia law used to prosecute child predators" (Press release). Attorney General of Virginia. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  42. ^ Johnson, Luke (June 25, 2013). "Ken Cuccinelli Appeals To Defend Virginia's Anti-Sodomy Law At Supreme Court". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  43. ^ "Supreme court begins new term by throwing out Virginia sodomy law". The Guardian. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  44. ^ "Virginia Attorney General says teachers can take students' cell phones, read texts". Fox News Channel. November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  45. ^ Mcneil, Brian (November 24, 2010). "Cuccinelli opinion: Teachers can seize, search students' cell phones". The Daily Progress. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  46. ^ a b Reddy, Sudeep (July 19, 2010). "States to Protect Borrowers Who Turn to Cars for Cash". The Wall Street Journal. p. A3. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  47. ^ a b "Cuccinelli sues Hampton auto title lender". Virginian-Pilot. May 19, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  48. ^ "Attorney General Cuccinelli sues Cash-N-A-Flash of Hampton for excessive interest charges". May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  49. ^ "Va AG sues VB-based mortgage companies | WAVY.com | Virginia Beach, Va". WAVY. July 20, 2010. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  50. ^ "Attorney General, lawmakers focus on human trafficking". WTVR. January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  51. ^ "The future of Ken Cuccinelli". The Washington Post. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  52. ^ Kumar, Anita (August 16, 2011). "Cuccinelli says he may challenge Warner for U.S. Senate in 2014". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  53. ^ "Cuccinelli denies plans for Senate run". Washington Examiner. August 16, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  54. ^ Kumar, Anita (December 1, 2011). "Ken Cuccinelli announces he will run for Va. governor in 2013". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  55. ^ "Cuccinelli hires private attorneys to defend state in Star Scientific tax lawsuit over taxes". The Washington Post. April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  56. ^ a b "Official Results – General Election – November 5, 2013". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  57. ^ Landers, Jackson (January 4, 2015). "Ken Cucinelli's post-politics endeavor". The Washington Post.
  58. ^ Gloria Borger (April 15, 2016). "Inside Cruz's hunt for delegates with Cuccinelli". CNN.
  59. ^ "Cuccinelli, Herring Lead Governor Primaries in VA" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  60. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (April 30, 2016). "Ken Cuccinelli will not run for Virginia governor in 2017, he says". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  61. ^ Vozzella, Laura (May 31, 2016). "Cuccinelli's new gig: Keeping an eye on Washington regulators". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  62. ^ Schneider, Gregory S. (January 20, 2017). "Cuccinelli files brief challenging Dominion Power rates". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  63. ^ Ainsley, Julia (June 10, 2019). "Trump taps conservative Ken Cuccinelli to head citizenship agency". NBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  64. ^ Radnofsky, Louise (July 6, 2019). "Ken Cuccinelli Takes Reins of Immigration Agency With Focus on Migrant Vetting". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  65. ^ Everett, Burgess; Johnson, Eliana (June 4, 2019). "Republicans ready to quash Cuccinelli". Politico. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  66. ^ a b Lapan, Tovin (June 21, 2019). "Why Trump's USCIS Pick Might Be His Most Controversial Yet". Fortune. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  67. ^ Hesson, Ted (June 10, 2019). "Cuccinelli starts as acting immigration official despite GOP opposition". Politico. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  68. ^ a b Nadler, Jerrold; Cummings, Elijah E.; Thompson, Bennie G. (June 18, 2019). "We write to express our deep concern over the June 10, 2019, appointment of Ken Cucinelli as Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)". Letter to Kevin K. McAleenan, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. U.S. House of Representatives committees on Judiciary, Oversight and Reform, and Homeland Security.
  69. ^ Sands, Geneva (September 6, 2019). "Lawsuit challenges Ken Cuccinelli's legitimacy to direct immigration agency". CNN. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  70. ^ Sands, Geneva (March 1, 2020). "Judge says Ken Cuccinelli unlawfully appointed to lead US immigration agency". CNN. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  71. ^ Miroff, Nick (March 1, 2020). "Ken Cuccinelli's appointment to top immigration job was unlawful, court rules, invalidating policy memos he signed". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  72. ^ Walerius, Randolph; Misra, Tanvi (August 14, 2020). "GAO says Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments at DHS invalid". Roll Call. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  73. ^ a b Kelly, Caroline; Shoichet, Catherine E.; Alvarez, Priscilla (June 27, 2019). "Ken Cuccinelli blames drowned man in border photograph for own, daughter's deaths". CNN. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  74. ^ Montoya-Galvez, Camilo (July 7, 2019). "Top immigration official says ICE is ready to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants". CBS News. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  75. ^ Ingber, Sasha (August 13, 2019). "Immigration Chief: 'Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor Who Can Stand On Their Own 2 Feet'". NPR. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  76. ^ Itkowitz, Colby (August 13, 2019). "'Who can stand on their own two feet': Ken Cuccinelli edits famous Statue of Liberty poem". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  77. ^ Helmore, Edward (August 13, 2019). "Trump official: Statue of Liberty poem should mean 'poor who can stand on own two feet'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  78. ^ Morin, Rebecca (August 13, 2019). "Immigration official Ken Cuccinelli: Statue of Liberty poem refers to immigrants from Europe". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  79. ^ Dooling, Shannon (October 30, 2019). "'I Made This Decision, Alone'; Months Later, Clarity Around The End Of Medical Deferred Action". WBUR. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  80. ^ a b Rainey, Rebecca (March 1, 2020). "Federal judge rules Cuccinelli appointment unlawful". Politico. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  81. ^ Shaw, Adam (November 13, 2019). "Chad Wolf sworn in as DHS chief, names Ken Cuccinelli as deputy". Fox News. Retrieved November 14, 2019. Chad Wolf was sworn in Wednesday as the new acting Homeland Security secretary, and announced that acting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ken Cuccinelli will serve as his deputy
  82. ^ Miroff, Nick (November 13, 2019). "Chad Wolf sworn in as acting Department of Homeland Security chief, Ken Cuccinelli to be acting deputy". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2019. Wolf will be joined at DHS headquarters by Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, who will move into the acting deputy secretary role, according to two administration officials familiar with the plans.
  83. ^ Montoya-Galvez, Camilo (November 13, 2019). "Immigration hawk Ken Cuccinelli tapped as No. 2 at Homeland Security". CBS News. Retrieved November 14, 2019. Ken Cuccinelli, an immigration hawk and vocal defender of President Trump's crackdown on illegal and legal immigration, was installed on Wednesday as the second-highest ranking official at the Department of Homeland Security.
  84. ^ Misra, Tanvi (November 14, 2019). "Suddenly, Ken Cuccinelli is No. 2 at DHS". Roll Call. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  85. ^ Bublé, Courtney (November 15, 2019). "Top Democrats Call for Emergency Review of DHS Appointments". Government Executive. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  86. ^ "Legality of Service of Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and Service of Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security". U.S. Government Accountability Office. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  87. ^ Cheney, Kyle (August 14, 2020). "GAO finds Chad Wolf, Ken Cuccinelli are ineligible to serve in their top DHS roles". Politico. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  88. ^ Bowden, John (July 7, 2020). "Cuccinelli says rule forcing international students to return home will 'encourage schools to reopen'". The Hill. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  89. ^ "Foreign students in U.S. could face deportation if their coursework is entirely online". CBC News. Reuters). July 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  90. ^ "Supporting International Students". Harvard University. July 8, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  91. ^ Levinson, Jonathan (July 18, 2020). "Federal Officers Use Unmarked Vehicles To Grab People In Portland, DHS Confirms". Houston Public Media. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  92. ^ "Oregon officials decry arrests by federal agents in Portland". PBS NewsHour. July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  93. ^ a b Swan, Betsy Woodruff (August 2, 2020). "Cuccinelli relaxed oversight of DHS intel office". Politico. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  94. ^ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Fandos, Nicholas (September 9, 2020). "D.H.S. Downplayed Threats From Russia and White Supremacists, Whistle-Blower Says". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  95. ^ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Savage, Charlie (February 1, 2021). "Trump Official's Last-Day Deal With ICE Union Ties Biden's Hands". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  96. ^ "Ken Cuccinelli" at The Heritage Foundation
  97. ^ Dans, Paul; Groves, Steven, eds. (2023). "Department of Homeland Security". Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise (PDF). The Heritage Foundation. pp. 133–169. ISBN 978-0-89195-174-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  98. ^ a b "Life". Ken Cuccinelli for Governor. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  99. ^ a b Baratko, Trevor (August 27, 2013). "Cuccinelli remarks on contraception, Obamacare at Ashburn forum". Loudoun Times-Mirror.
  100. ^ "Cuccinelli named Family Foundation Legislator of the Year". November 22, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  101. ^ "SB 371, Abortion; procedure if performed after first trimester". January 4, 2004.
  102. ^ "SB 839: Abortion clinics; regulation and licensure". January 10, 2005.
  103. ^ "SB 315. Abortion; preservation of fetal tissue when performed on child under age 15". January 10, 2006.
  104. ^ a b c d e f Stokols, Eli (May 22, 2019). "Trump expected to pick hard-liner Ken Cuccinelli for new post of 'immigration czar'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  105. ^ "Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General, Clarifies Obama Birther Statements". The Huffington Post. May 15, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  106. ^ a b NRA wading into Va. governor's race with $500K ad campaign against McAuliffe The Washington Post
  107. ^ "SB 579 Concealed weapons; abolishes prohib. on carrying in a rest. or club, excep. when alcohol consumed". January 15, 2005.
  108. ^ "SB 771 Concealed handgun permits". January 8, 2003.
  109. ^ "SB 332 Concealed handgun permits; access to personal information of permittees". January 8, 2008.
  110. ^ "SB 1266 concealed weapons permit; disqualifies person using negligently or unlawfully to endanger others". January 18, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  111. ^ "SB 1528 concealed handgun permits; completion of firearms training, etc., may be done electronically".
  112. ^ Galusuzka, Peter (January 8, 2013). "Can Anyone Stop Ken Cuccinelli?". Style Weekly. Richmond, Virginia.
  113. ^ Kaczynski, Andrew (August 17, 2019). "Trump official has talked about undocumented immigrants as 'invaders' since at least 2007". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  114. ^ a b Fisher, Marc (May 21, 2019). "Cuccinelli, a righteous, faith-driven warrior who delights in provocation, will join Trump administration". The Washington Post.
  115. ^ "DHS Communications Regarding Ginni Thomas". American Oversight. December 9, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023.
  116. ^ Holmes, Kristen (March 9, 2023). "Ex-Trump official Cuccinelli launches PAC urging DeSantis to enter 2024 race | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  117. ^ Lessig, Hugh (May 20, 2006). "Writings frame bigger General Assembly rift: Two fellow Republicans cause Sen. Norment, R-James City, to say chamber civility is eroding". Daily Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  118. ^ "Twisting Cuccinelli's Tax Plan - FactCheck.org". September 13, 2013.
  119. ^ "Ken Cuccinelli, fighting taxes & supporting businesses". Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  120. ^ "SB 1271 Local condemnation authority; definition of public uses". Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  121. ^ "Cuccinelli keeps his promise to challenge an overreaching government – videos". Roanoke Free Press. April 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  122. ^ "Virginia Approves Eminent Domain Amendment". Reason. November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  123. ^ "Commonwealth of Virginia Legislative Information System". Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  124. ^ Heinatz, Stephanie (February 23, 2005). "Bill grants officers overtime pay for hours worked while on vacation". Virginian-Pilot. p. B5.
  125. ^ Craig, Tim (November 13, 2007). "Kaine Cuts Abstinence-Only Program Funds". The Washington Post – via pressreader.com.
  126. ^ "Unofficial Results – General Election – November 5, 2013". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  127. ^ Winters, Michael Sean (December 14, 2012). "Crazy Cuccinelli". National Catholic Reporter.
  128. ^ "Ken Cuccinelli moves to Prince William Co". WSLS. May 20, 2012. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  129. ^ "Who is Ken Cuccinelli?". Washingtonian. May 3, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
edit
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 37th district

2002–2010
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Virginia
2010–2014
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Acting

2019–present
Incumbent
Preceded by United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Acting

2019–present