Biden Family Investigation Lawyer Joins Cahill in Washington

The lawyer who oversaw the GOP-led congressional inquiry into the Biden family’s alleged “influence peddling” started a new job at Cahill Gordon & Reindel’s Washington DC office, the firm announced Wednesday.

James Mandolfo, who concluded his tenure as general counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Tuesday, joins the firm’s congressional investigations practice as counsel. Firm leaders said Mandolfo, a former federal prosecutor, will counsel public companies, government contractors, and financial institutions in congressional investigations and criminal prosecutions.

Mandolfo’s hire is the latest in the firm’s effort to establish a leading congressional investigations practice following the arrival of WilmerHale partner Edward O’Callaghan in August. O’Callaghan, who oversaw the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference, now chairs Cahill’s congressional investigations practice.

James Mandolfo

“From my experience working on the Hill, this is the best time to expand a congressional investigations practice,” Mandolfo said Wednesday. “From the 118th Congress, there was a tremendous amount of investigation. All of these activities from Congress require extremely talented attorneys who understand not only how to manage the Congressional issues that arise, but also the public issues that arise from that kind of exposure.”

Mandolfo’s move to Cahill follows two years of conducting high-profile investigations for the House’s Committee on Oversight and Accountability, including US Rep. James Comer’s inquiry into President Biden and his family members’ ties to foreign businesses.

The investigation concluded in August when House Republicans released a 291-page report arguing Biden engaged in impeachable conduct, stopping short of making a formal recommendation to the House for impeachment. A White House spokesperson called the report a “failed” effort at impeaching the president.

“I won’t get into the inquiry but I’ll just say that given my background in conducting financial investigations, there has been an extensive amount of financial analysis that was impressive for that investigation,” Mandolfo said. “That is another ability I can provide in this role.”

Mandolfo was also tasked with investigating lapses by the Secret Service in protection for former president Trump from attempted assassination and preparing lawmakers for the testimony of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Mandolfo said.

Mandolfo is not barred in Washington DC and will be supervised by O’Callaghan. Mandolfo is licensed to practice in Florida and New York, where he served as assistant US attorney in the Middle District of Florida and assistant district attorney in Manhattan, respectively. Mandolfo’s bar membership in DC is pending, he said.

“Having conducted investigations and trials from every angle of the government side, plus his years at the center of Washington, James has the ability to see around corners on behalf of clients,” O’Callaghan said in a statement.