Kingman to lead white-collar crimes task force

James Robert Kingman

The Office of the Attorney General says that James Robert Kingman, in his new capacity as assistant attorney general, will be spearheading the recently established white-collar crime task force, which is mandated with launching investigations and prosecuting cases involving abuse of public funds.

Attorney General Edward Manibusan announced in a news release yesterday the pending addition of Kingman as an assistant attorney general/special prosecutor to head up the task force, which was established by the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Public Auditor, and the Department of Public Safety.

The task force was created to investigate and prosecute white-collar crimes, government corruption, and financial crimes.

“Attorney General Manibusan, the temporary Public Auditor, and [Department of Public Safety] Commissioner Clement Bermudes [have] announced the formation of the task force. The collaboration and partnership among the law enforcement agencies are vital to holding those accountable for waste and abuse of public funds and other criminal conduct,” the statement said.

As the managing prosecutor for the task force, Kingman will supervise task force members in the investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases.

“He will also be reviewing allegations of abuse relating to [American Rescue Plan Act] funds and will continue to represent the Commonwealth in the prosecution of former governor Ralph Torres,” said the OAG.

The OAG believes that hiring Kingman to serve as an AAG is ultimately in the interest of the Commonwealth and fulfills the goal under the constitution for a clean and transparent government.

In addition, speaking of concerns raised about the legality of Kingman’s appointment, Manibusan claims that Kingman’s hiring follows the process for the employment of exempt employees.

“As attorney general, I am empowered under the Constitution to hire employees and to prosecute cases. AAG positions, including Mr. Kingman’s position as assistant attorney general/special prosecutor, is exempt from the civil service system. His hiring follows the process for the employment of exempt employees,” he said.

Kingman holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College.

He has served as an assistant district attorney in Texas handling felony cases including white collar crime, fraud, money laundering, and child sexual abuse cases.

Kingman, for his part, assures the community that he will give his new role his all and is grateful for the trust bestowed upon him in appointing him as head of this new task force.

“I am grateful to have been appointed to lead the new multi-agency public integrity law enforcement task force. Though my plan when I arrived was only to try a case as special prosecutor, I am thankful to be stepping into an expanded role. I have been involved with efforts surrounding anti-corruption, public transparency, and accountable governance since 2010. My convictions on these issues are deeply held. This is a unique community that has welcomed and inspired me in the short time that I have been fortunate enough to experience it. With this new set of responsibilities, I hope to use my experience to help this singular place move toward the government and leadership that it deserves. It is a substantial task. I will give it my all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Torres’ defense team has raised questions about this new appointment, such as why Kingman’s salary is higher than of the chief prosecutor for the OAG’s criminal division, why was Kingman not hired as an AAG to begin with, and more.

“Within just seven days of Mr. Torres filing for judicial review of the validity of the OAG contract hiring of Mr. Kingman as a special prosecutor, the OAG has begun taking steps to convert Mr. Kingman into an employee of the OAG’s criminal division. The OAG has done so without offering any explanation why. Why did it originally hire Mr. Kingman as a special prosecutor instead of an AAG? Why is it making the change now? And why did it not publicly advertise the AAG position with a salary greater than the salary of the chief of the criminal division?,” the defense asked.

Torres’ defense team says the OAG should also explain to the public why it is paying Kingman so much.

“What are the specific successful criminal prosecutions handled by Mr. Kingman in cases involving public corruption, financial crimes, and/or white-collar crimes that justify the extraordinary sums the government is paying him? If such cases do not exist, then what is the justification for the extraordinary pay and for not advertising the position?” asked Torres’ defense.

“The OAG should also inform the public whether Kingman’s $85,000 annual salary accounts for the $50,000 already paid to Mr. Kingman when the OAG hired him as a special prosecutor in March 2023. If it is not, then why? Additionally, Mr. Kingman, who has been on island since March 2023, is an on-island hire and should not receive the benefits reserved for off-island hires, including housing assistance and repatriation at the end of his employment. Without seeing a copy of the proposed excepted service contract, the answer to these questions remain unknown,” the defense added.

Overall, Torres’ defense team is not in favor of the OAG’s conduct concerning Kingman’s appointment.

“The conduct of the Office of the Attorney General concerning the special prosecutor, the subpoenaing of Mr. Torres’ personal banking records which are unrelated to any of the charges against him, the vindictive motion to add 38 new charges against Mr. Torres, and the OAG’s investigating, filing and handling of Criminal Case No. 22-0050 are all simply evidence of amok run amuck,” the defense stated.