[[David Margolis]] is a long-serving official within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], described as its highest-ranking career official. He has served under 18 attorneys general and navigated sensitive cases throughout his tenure. His career history includes serving as Deputy Assistant Attorney General (1990-1993) and Senior official, Organized Crime Section, Criminal Division (1976-1990).[^1] ### Involvement in MCA Investigation Margolis was the chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He, along with his deputy [[Michael DeFeo]], reportedly called [[Marvin Rudnick]], a Los Angeles prosecutor, to Washington D.C. and instructed him to eliminate [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] from his investigation into [[Sal Pisello]]. Rudnick was told he could pursue a tax case against Pisello but could not call [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] executives as witnesses or determine the exact nature of Pisello's relationship with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] [[William Hundley]], retained by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], confirmed meeting with Margolis and DeFeo to convey [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s willingness to cooperate in any organized crime investigation. Margolis, along with DeFeo, was accused by [[Marvin Rudnick]] of having an agenda to obstruct justice in the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] investigation. [[Richard Stavin]] confirmed that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap revealed a conversation in which [[Eugene Giaquinto]] told [[Martin Bacow]] that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and have the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] stopped. This investigation was indeed shut down afterward by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]].[^1] ### Later Career and Controversies Margolis figured prominently in the Whitewater investigation during the [[Bill Clinton]] administration and the [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorney]] scandal under President [[George W. Bush]]. In 2010, he drew scrutiny for his decision to spare from punishment two Bush administration lawyers who authored memos justifying the use of enhanced interrogation methods on suspected terrorists. He was defended by 17 former top [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] officials, including attorneys general from both political parties.[^1] As Associate Deputy Attorney General, Margolis serves as a key adviser to the department's senior political appointees. He also oversees the interview process for potential [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorneys]], disciplines federal prosecutors, and vets [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] officials. He once described his "eclectic" role as being the department's "cleaner," cleaning up messes.[^1] --- ### Footnotes [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.