News

Washington, D.C., May 20, 2025 – Walden Macht Haran & Williams LLP (WMHW) is excited to announce that John Keller, the former Acting Chief of the Public Integrity Section (PIN), has joined the Firm as partner. Keller’s experience in various leadership roles in the Department of Justice and in his successful handling of some of the Department’s most sensitive matters make him the ideal partner to establish our presence in the Nation’s Capital.

Keller served as a federal prosecutor for 15 years, first as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), and then for over a decade with PIN. Keller oversaw and personally prosecuted many of the country’s most delicate and consequential matters, including those involving public officials at the highest levels of state, local, and federal government. Keller also led the Attorney General’s Election Threats Task Force, prosecuting political violence while upholding the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. Previously, as a trial attorney and AUSA, Keller handled landmark cases involving procurement, healthcare, mortgage, and securities fraud, false claims, bribery, and national security.

As head of Public Integrity, pursuant to longstanding DOJ policy requiring consultation and review by PIN in all criminal matters nationwide involving suspected violations of campaign finance laws or any corruption of the election process, Keller directed the Department’s response to the most serious allegations of election crime and related foreign influence, in addition to traditional corruption. In 2019, Keller oversaw the Section’s response to unprecedented allegations of international corruption involving a request by the then-President of the United States for Ukraine to initiate a criminal investigation into an opposing presidential candidate.  In 2024 and 2025, Keller was responsible for reviewing and concurring in international corruption and campaign finance charges against the Mayor of New York City and refused a directive to dismiss the case after a change in administration.  In both instances, and throughout his tenure, Keller demonstrated exceptional character and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law in a highly charged environment.

“We are tremendously excited to welcome John to the Firm,” said Sean Haran, Chair of the Firm’s Executive Committee.  “His steadfast integrity and commitment to justice and the rule of law, his leadership experience, and his track record of success in groundbreaking cases make him the perfect candidate to establish our presence in Washington, D.C. and continue our tradition of exceptional service for our clients in high-stakes cases.”

“I am ecstatic to join such an elite group of trial lawyers,” said Keller.  “WMHW’s history of top-tier representation in government enforcement actions, complex civil cases, and plaintiff-side work to combat constitutional violations and government overreach provides an unmatched opportunity to fight for clients to ensure fair treatment under the law.”

Keller was honored with the Criminal Division’s highest awards for trials and investigations on five occasions at PIN, including for an honest services and Medicaid fraud trial involving bribery of the Deputy Director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services by a statewide provider. The case was the first significant public integrity matter to be tried in the wake of the Supreme Court’s pivotal decision in McDonnell v. United States.  Keller also prosecuted the Department’s first criminal contempt case against a major sitting elected official in United States v. Arpaio, for willful disregard of a preliminary injunction prohibiting unlawful immigration enforcement.  Most recently, in United States v. Michel, Keller successfully led the five-week trial of former Fugees star, Pras Michel, for an extensive foreign influence and campaign contribution scheme targeting two successive sitting Presidents of the United States.

Keller has also served as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center since 2021 and currently teaches a course on constitutional law.  Prior to his service at Public Integrity and as an AUSA, Keller served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender, a litigation associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, and as a law clerk to the Honorable Barry G. Silverman on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Keller attended the University of Illinois College of Law on academic scholarship and was awarded his J.D. summa cum laude and Order of the Coif.  He received his B.A. with honors in economics and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.