# BJay Pak > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/BJay_Pak > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/BJay_Pak.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BJay_Pak > Source revision: 1345740059 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Korean-American attorney and politician (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = BJay Pak |image = BJ Pak official photo.jpg | caption = Official portrait 2017 |office = [United States Attorney](/source/United_States_Attorney) for the [Northern District of Georgia](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Northern_District_of_Georgia) |president = [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) |term_start = October 10, 2017 |term_end = January 4, 2021 |predecessor = [John A. Horn](/source/John_A._Horn) |successor = [Bobby Christine](/source/Bobby_Christine) (Acting){{cite web |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-appointed-bobby-christine |title=Trump Admin Bypasses Top Career Prosecutor to Name New Acting US Attorney in Atlanta |first=Tierney |last=Sneed |date=January 5, 2021 |work=[Talking Points Memo](/source/Talking_Points_Memo)}} |office1 = Member of the [Georgia House of Representatives](/source/Georgia_House_of_Representatives) |term_start1 = January 10, 2011 |term_end1 = January 9, 2017 |predecessor1 = [Clay Cox](/source/Clay_Cox) (102nd)
[Terry England](/source/Terry_England) (108th) |successor1 = [Buzz Brockway](/source/Buzz_Brockway) (102nd)
Clay Cox (108th) |constituency1 = [102nd district](/source/Georgia's_102nd_House_of_Representatives_district) (2011–2013)
[108th district](/source/Georgia's_108th_House_of_Representatives_district) (2013–2017) |birth_name = Byung Jin Pak |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1974}} |birth_place = [Seoul](/source/Seoul), [South Korea](/source/South_Korea) |death_date = |death_place = |party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) |spouse = Sandra |children = 3 |education = [Stetson University](/source/Stetson_University) ([BS](/source/Bachelor_of_Science))
[University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign](/source/University_of_Illinois%2C_Urbana-Champaign) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor)) }} '''Byung Jin''' "'''BJay'''" '''Pak'''{{cite web|date=April 8, 2015|title=Meet the U.S. Attorney|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/meet-us-attorney|access-date=October 23, 2017|publisher=United States Department of Justice}}{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-fourth-wave-united-states-attorney-candidate-nominations/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Fourth Wave of United States Attorney Candidate Nominations|date=July 21, 2017|via=[National Archives](/source/NARA)|work=[whitehouse.gov](/source/whitehouse.gov)|access-date=March 16, 2018}} (born 1974) is a [Korean-American](/source/Korean_Americans) attorney and politician who served as the [United States attorney](/source/United_States_Attorney) for the [United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Northern_District_of_Georgia) from 2017 to 2021. Pak previously served as a member of the [Georgia House of Representatives](/source/Georgia_House_of_Representatives) as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) from 2011 to 2017. ==Early life and education== Pak was born in [Seoul](/source/Seoul), [South Korea](/source/South_Korea). His family emigrated to United States, residing in [Apopka, Florida](/source/Apopka%2C_Florida), when he was 9 years old.{{cite news|last1=McDonald|first1=R. Robin|title=Pak's Nomination a 'Great Leap' for Georgia's Asian-Americans|url=http://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/almID/1202793893766/|access-date=October 23, 2017|agency=Law.com|publisher=Daily Report|date=July 25, 2017}} Pak is a graduate of [Stetson University](/source/Stetson_University), where he earned a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) degree in [accounting](/source/accounting). He earned his [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor), ''[summa cum laude](/source/summa_cum_laude)'' and [Order of the Coif](/source/Order_of_the_Coif), from the [University of Illinois College of Law](/source/University_of_Illinois_College_of_Law). In law school, Pak was a [Harno Scholar](/source/Harno_Scholar), served as the notes editor for the recent decisions section of the ''[Illinois Bar Journal](/source/Illinois_Bar_Journal)'', and was a member of the ''[Elder Law Journal](/source/The_Elder_Law_Journal)''. In 2013, he was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the University of Illinois College of Law. ==Career== After graduation, he [clerked](/source/Law_clerk) for [Richard Mills](/source/Richard_Henry_Mills) of the [United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Central_District_of_Illinois). Pak served in the [Georgia House of Representatives](/source/Georgia_House_of_Representatives) as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) from 2011 to 2017. After representing the [102nd District](/source/Georgia's_102nd_House_of_Representatives_district) from 2011 to 2013 and the [108th District](/source/Georgia's_108th_House_district) from 2013 to 2017, Pak opted not to run for re-election in the November [2016 election](/source/2016_United_States_elections).{{cite news|last1=Yeomans|first1=Curt|date=February 20, 2016|title=Pak leaving legislature after current term ends|publisher=Gwinnett Daily Post|url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/cities/lilburn/pak-leaving-legislature-after-current-term-ends/article_a9b703a2-4726-5cbf-bcac-84d20930c2f0.html|access-date=October 23, 2017}}{{cite web|title=B.J. Pak|url=https://ballotpedia.org/B.J._Pak|access-date=February 24, 2017|publisher=Ballotpedia}} Pak was previously a [federal prosecutor](/source/federal_prosecutor). While serving as an [Assistant United States Attorney](/source/Assistant_United_States_Attorney), he led the prosecution of individuals who tried to steal [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola)'s [trade secret](/source/trade_secret)s in order to sell them to [Pepsi](/source/Pepsi). Pak is Georgia's first [Asian-American](/source/Asian_Americans) U.S. Attorney, and he was the state's first Korean-American legislator. ===United States Attorney=== In July 2017, Pak was nominated by President [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) to become United States attorney for the [Northern District of Georgia](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Northern_District_of_Georgia).{{cite news|last1=Hallerman|first1=Tamar|title=Donald Trump taps former Georgia rep., Albany lawyer to be U.S. attorneys|url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/07/21/donald-trump-taps-former-georgia-rep-albany-lawyer-to-be-u-s-attorneys/|access-date=October 23, 2017|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 21, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907081345/http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/07/21/donald-trump-taps-former-georgia-rep-albany-lawyer-to-be-u-s-attorneys/|url-status=dead}} He was confirmed for the position by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on September 28, 2017.{{cite news|last1=Hallerman|first1=Tamar|title=Senate confirms former state rep. to be Atlanta-based U.S. attorney|url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/09/28/senate-confirms-former-state-rep-to-be-atlanta-based-u-s-attorney/|access-date=October 23, 2017|publisher=[Atlanta Journal-Constitution](/source/Atlanta_Journal-Constitution)|date=September 28, 2017|archive-date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043537/http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/09/28/senate-confirms-former-state-rep-to-be-atlanta-based-u-s-attorney/|url-status=dead}} On January 3, 2021, Trump called top Georgia state election officials, a call which was recorded and later released, and pressured them to help him "find" more votes in order to overturn the election of [president-elect](/source/President-elect_of_the_United_States) [Biden](/source/Joe_Biden). During the call, Trump referenced [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta_County) and [Fulton counties](/source/Fulton_County%2C_Georgia) of Georgia and referred to the "[never-Trumper](/source/Never_Trumper) U.S. attorney there." Pak's district included those counties. Pak resigned the next day, citing "unforeseen circumstances."{{cite news | publisher = ajc.com | date = January 4, 2021 | title = U.S. Attorney for North Georgia abruptly resigns due to 'unforeseen circumstances' | author = Alexis Stevens, J. Scott Trubey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | url = https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-us-attorney-for-north-georgia-resigns-effective-immediately/UDJNKRKKLRFILC4NC5QKWEUKXM/}}{{cite news | publisher = ajc.com | date = January 21, 2021 | title = Former U.S. Attorney Pak returns to Atlanta law firm | author = Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | url = https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-former-us-attorney-pak-returns-to-atlanta-law-firm/PT5QPVRTVVAARO6J7AJO4MHHBM/}}{{cite news | publisher = fox5atlanta.com | date =January 21, 2021 | title = Report: Justice Department probes abrupt departure of Atlanta U.S. attorney | author = FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team | url = https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/report-justice-department-probes-abrupt-departure-of-atlanta-u-s-attorney }} ===Resignation=== Pak resigned unexpectedly on January 4, 2021.{{Cite press release |title=U.S. Attorney Pak submits resignation |date=January 4, 2021 |location=[Atlanta](/source/Atlanta), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/us-attorney-pak-submits-resignation |access-date=January 5, 2021}} [Justice Department](/source/United_States_Department_of_Justice) officials have declined to say whether Pak resigned voluntarily or was asked to do so. However, ''[The Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal)'' reported that Pak was [forced to resign](/source/Forced_resignation) by senior [White House](/source/White_House) officials in the Trump administration for not investigating [false claims](/source/false_claims) of [election fraud](/source/election_fraud) "enough."{{cite news |last1=McWhirter |last2=Gurman |last3=Viswanatha |title=White House Forced Georgia U.S. Attorney to Resign |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-forced-georgia-u-s-attorney-to-resign-11610225840?mod=searchresults_pos1&page=1 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=January 9, 2021}} Trump immediately replaced Pak with [Bobby Christine](/source/Bobby_Christine),{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/meet-us-attorney|title=Meet the U.S. Attorney|date=April 8, 2015|website=www.justice.gov}} the Trump-appointed [U.S. attorney from southern Georgia](/source/U.S._Attorney_for_the_Southern_District_of_Georgia), bypassing top career prosecutor [Kurt Erskine](/source/Kurt_Erskine).politico.com: [https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/05/trump-replaces-us-attorney-atlanta-455053 ''Trump replaces U.S. attorney in Atlanta''] Christine also found no evidence of election fraud.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/politics/pak-trump-georgia-election-testimony/index.html|title=Former US attorney tells investigators he quit because he heard Trump was considering firing him|last1=Sneed|first1=Tierney|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|date=August 22, 2021|work=CNN|access-date=August 12, 2021}} The [Justice Department inspector general](/source/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Office_of_the_Inspector_General) opened an inquiry into Pak's departure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-atlanta-us-attorney-inspector-general/2021/01/21/2cc24d1e-5c39-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html|title=Justice Dept. watchdog to examine abrupt departure of Atlanta U.S. attorney whom Trump appeared to criticize|first=Matt|last=Zapotosky|via=www.washingtonpost.com}} Pak told the [Senate Judiciary Committee](/source/Senate_Judiciary_Committee) in August 2021 that top Justice Department officials had told him on January 3 that he would be fired by Trump if he did not say there had been widespread [voter fraud](/source/voter_fraud) in Georgia; resigning would pre-empt a public dismissal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/us/politics/byung-pak-trump-atlanta-election-fraud.html|title=Former U.S. attorney in Atlanta says Trump wanted to fire him for not backing election fraud claims.|first=Katie|last=Benner|work=The New York Times |date=August 11, 2021|via=NYTimes.com}} Pak has since returned to [private practice](/source/Private_practice_of_law).[Alston & Bird](/source/Alston_%26_Bird): [https://www.alston.com/en/professionals/p/pak-byung-bjay www.alston.com] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20210104234045/https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/meet-us-attorney Biography at U.S. Attorney's Office] * georgia.gov: [https://gov.georgia.gov/bj-pak CV] * [https://www.alston.com/en/professionals/p/pak-byung-bjay Firm Bio] {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ga-hs}} {{s-bef|before=[Clay Cox](/source/Clay_Cox)}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [Georgia House of Representatives](/source/Georgia_House_of_Representatives)
from the [102nd](/source/Georgia's_102nd_House_of_Representatives_district) district|years=2011–2013}} {{s-aft|after=[Buzz Brockway](/source/Buzz_Brockway)}} |- {{s-bef|before=[Terry England](/source/Terry_England)}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [Georgia House of Representatives](/source/Georgia_House_of_Representatives)
from the [108th](/source/Georgia's_108th_House_of_Representatives_district) district|years=2013–2017}} {{s-aft|after=[Clay Cox](/source/Clay_Cox)}} |- {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[John A. Horn](/source/John_A._Horn)}} {{s-ttl|title=[United States Attorney](/source/United_States_Attorney) for the [Northern District of Georgia](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Northern_District_of_Georgia)|years=2017–2021}} {{s-aft|after=[Bobby Christine](/source/Bobby_Christine)
Acting}} {{s-end}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pak, BJay}} Category:1974 births Category:American politicians of Korean descent Category:Assistant United States attorneys Category:Asian-American people in Georgia (U.S. state) politics Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives Category:Stetson University alumni Category:United States attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia Category:University of Illinois College of Law alumni Category:Asian conservatism in the United States Category:Asian-American state legislators in Georgia Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BJay Pak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BJay_Pak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BJay_Pak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.