Kean Miller staying mum on rumors that Letten will join law firm

About two hours before Jim Letten held a 10:30 a.m. news conference today in New Orleans to announce his resignation as U.S. attorney, Steve Boutwell—marketing director for Kean Miller law firm—began getting phone calls from reporters. Word around New Orleans is that Letten is in talks with Kean Miller to join the firm now that his 28-year career with the Department of Justice is officially over. “I can’t confirm or deny that we’re in talks with Jim Letten, but I can tell you that any law firm in Louisiana would love to have an attorney of his caliber,” Boutwell says. “He’s an extremely talented attorney.” Letten was the nation’s longest-serving U.S. attorney, with 11 years in the position, having been retained in the job by President Barack Obama despite his Republican Party affiliation. Though his resignation will be effective Tuesday, he will stay on briefly—not as head of the office—to aid in the transition. He delivered an emotional, 10-minute speech this morning in which he spoke of his pride in having served for more than a decade as the region’s top federal law enforcement officer. He also said he plans on staying in Louisiana. Letten’s resignation comes eight months into a scandal revolving around anonymous online commenting by high-ranking prosecutors in his office. The Associated Press has the full details of Letten’s resignation here. —Steve Sanoski