He didn’t wish to resign, but that is how it works when it comes to U.S. Attorney’s offices across the country.
Republicans appoint Republicans and Democrats appoint Democrats. Bill Ihlenfeld was appointed by former President Barack Obama and was the Northern District’s U.S. Attorney for a little more than seven years, but then former President Donald Trump was elected, and that necessitated the resignation.
Now, with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, Ihlenfeld has been appointed for a second time. That development, however, meant the Wheeling native had to issue yet another resignation, this time from the West Virginia Senate. Ihlenfeld served three years in the state’s First Senatorial District after defeating incumbent Ryan Ferns in 2018, 53 percent to 47 percent.
“Public service has always been a priority for me, and I knew from firsthand experience that I could more effectively serve the public in the United States Attorney’s Office,” he explained. “It was an honor to have been elected, and I’ll never forget my time in the Legislature, but I know that I will have a greater impact in my new position.”
That’s not to say Ihlenfeld was an ineffective lawmaker despite serving as a member of the minority party. Although he was not invited to participate in creating the Senate’s agenda, several of his offered amendments were accepted by the Republican leadership. His experiences, though, were not always pleasant.
“Conflicts of interest frequently arise in the Legislature, but there aren’t sufficient laws to govern this problem,” Ihlenfeld explained. “Legislators can do business with the state and benefit financially without approval from the state ethics commission thanks to an exception that was carved out by the legislators themselves.
“This creates an uneven playing field,” he said, “and gives elected officials an advantage over everyone else.”
Round Two
Once President Biden won the presidency, Ihlenfled began inquiring about a return to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Federal Building along Chapline Street in downtown Wheeling.
“The day I got the call from Washington to tell me that my background check was commencing was definitely a good one,” Ihlenfeld recalled. “While I knew that I still had a long way to go until U.S. Senate confirmation, it was a thrill to know that the White House had my name at the top of its list. I got word during what was a very difficult legislative session, so it was nice to get some good news.”
On October 12, it became official following his confirmation by members of the U.S. Senate. That allowed Ihlenfled to formulate his initiatives for his return to the federal position.
“My primary goal as United States Attorney is to make the Northern District of West Virginia a safer place for its residents,” he insisted. “This means reducing violent crime, loosening the grip of addiction, and protecting the most vulnerable – our children and the elderly.
“Cybersecurity will be a key focus, as the threat of cyber-attacks has never been greater,” Ihlenfeld continued. “I will be engaging with the private sector to better address the prevention of attacks and responding to them when they do occur.”
The U.S. Northern District is one of two in the Mountain State, and court proceedings take place in Clarksburg, Elkins, Martinsburg, and Wheeling. A total of 32 of West Virginia’s 55 counties are included in the district, most of which are rural in nature. During his first tenure, Ihlenfeld concentrated on the opioid crisis by forming teams of community leaders to help raise awareness about the issue.
This time?
“Domestic terrorism was a problem before, but it has gotten worse and needs more attention from federal law enforcement,” he said. “I am in the process of creating a strategy to address the threat in my district.
“I will place a much greater emphasis on white-collar crime, to include cases of tax evasion, health care fraud, corporate crime, and public corruption,” Ihlenfeld added. “We will be aggressive in our approach, seeking lengthy prison sentences and seizing all assets obtained via the illegal conduct.”
