Frank Lautenberg: “today, I express my gratitude to a member of my staff, Michael A. Hughes, who will be returning to his regular job as a…”

“today, I express my gratitude to a member of my staff, Michael A. Hughes, who will be returning to his regular job as a senior inspector in the U.S. Marshals Service after tomorrow. Mike has worked in my office for the past 15 months as a legislative fellow, and my staff and I have been extremely fortunate to have Mike's help. We will miss him. Mike is a New Jersey native who was born in Jersey City. He graduated from Montclair University with a degree in political science and criminal justice in 1990. After college, he joined the U.S. Marshals Service--America's oldest federal law enforcement agency--as a deputy marshal and quickly distinguished himself as an outstanding law enforcement official. For instance, Mike was tasked with the responsibility of accompanying crime boss John Gotti to and from his 1992 trial, and then escorting Gotti to the maximum security facility for federal prisoners in Marion, Illinois, after his conviction and sentencing. Mike was also responsible for protecting high-ranking foreign dignitaries who visited the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan. Mike conducted several criminal and civil investigations and soon became an inspector in the U.S. Marshals Service's Witness Security Program. Later, he became a senior inspector. Never in the 30-year history of the Witness Security Program has a cooperative participant or his or her family been discovered or harmed.”