WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office appointed Michael German as Policy Counsel on National Security, Immigration and Privacy. A former FBI agent, German brings extensive national security and intelligence experience as well as a lifelong dedication to civil liberties.

"We are pleased to have Michael German’s experience as an FBI Agent on our team at a time when our freedoms are under attack," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. "At a time when it’s hard to tell the difference between the morning paper and a George Orwell novel, the ACLU will benefit from the wise counsel of Michael German, with his front-line perspective on national security."

German is a sixteen-year veteran of the FBI, where he served as a Special Agent in domestic terrorism, bank fraud and public corruption investigations. While at the FBI, German also served in undercover operations, successfully helping to prevent several terrorist attacks. He resigned in 2004 to make Congress and the public aware of the continuing deficiencies in FBI counterterrorism operations after the implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s reforms.

After leaving the FBI, German formed Hotei Consulting, where he urged Congress to adopt better intelligence policies in the wake of 9/11. He was also as an adjunct professor at the National Defense University School for National Security Executive Education.

German’s articles on terrorism have appeared in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and the National Law Journal.

German graduated from Wake Forest University and earned his J.D. from Northwestern University Law School. For his work combating white supremacist groups, he was awarded the Los Angeles Federal Bar Association Medal of Valor, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church FAME Award and the Traveler’s Aid Community Award.

"I joined the FBI because I wanted to defend this country, but the oath I took was to defend the Constitution. Working for this administration, I felt as though I was participating in a dark chapter in American history," German said. "At the ACLU, I will be able to fulfill my oath by protecting what this country stands for: we can, and must, be both safe and free."