Baucus Applauds Committee Approval of Two Key Treasury Nominees

Finance Chair: Top-Notch Staff Will Help Treasury Combat Terrorism, Continue Economic Recovery

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today applauded the Finance Committee’s action favorably reporting the nominations of David S. Cohen to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes and Jenni R. LeCompte to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. Cohen was approved by a vote of 22-0 with Senator Grassley (R-Iowa) voting present, and LeCompte was approved by a vote of 23-0. Senator Ensign (R-Nev.) did not vote on either nomination. The Committee approved the nominations in an executive session held this afternoon, and they now move to the Senate floor for confirmation.

“Confirming top-notch staff to serve in these important positions will help the Treasury Department continue to combat terrorism and propel the recovery forward,” Baucus said. “David Cohen has a proven track record stamping out terrorism financing and cracking down on financial crimes like money laundering. Fighting terrorism in the modern world requires a modern approach, and that’s what David Cohen’s leadership will provide. Jenni LeCompte’s successes at Treasury have prepared her well to serve as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.”

Cohen became the Assistant Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing in 2009, and since then, has been responsible for formulating and coordinating anti-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering efforts. If confirmed as Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes, he would lead the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence in its mission to combat terrorist financing and money laundering domestically and internationally. Cohen currently serves as Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes and previously served as Acting Deputy General Counsel and Associate Deputy General Counsel at the Treasury Department.

LeCompte, who has served as the Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary for Public Affairs Operations since 2009, would manage the Department’s media relations and act as the official spokesperson if confirmed.

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